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Lee YS. Peptidomimetics and Their Applications for Opioid Peptide Drug Discovery. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12091241. [PMID: 36139079 PMCID: PMC9496382 DOI: 10.3390/biom12091241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite various advantages, opioid peptides have been limited in their therapeutic uses due to the main drawbacks in metabolic stability, blood-brain barrier permeability, and bioavailability. Therefore, extensive studies have focused on overcoming the problems and optimizing the therapeutic potential. Currently, numerous peptide-based drugs are being marketed thanks to new synthetic strategies for optimizing metabolism and alternative routes of administration. This tutorial review briefly introduces the history and role of natural opioid peptides and highlights the key findings on their structure-activity relationships for the opioid receptors. It discusses details on opioid peptidomimetics applied to develop therapeutic candidates for the treatment of pain from the pharmacological and structural points of view. The main focus is the current status of various mimetic tools and the successful applications summarized in tables and figures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yeon Sun Lee
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
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2
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Stefanucci A, Iobbi V, Della Valle A, Scioli G, Pieretti S, Minosi P, Mirzaie S, Novellino E, Mollica A. In Silico Identification of Tripeptides as Lead Compounds for the Design of KOR Ligands. Molecules 2021; 26:4767. [PMID: 34443366 PMCID: PMC8399634 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26164767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Revised: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The kappa opioid receptor (KOR) represents an attractive target for the development of drugs as potential antidepressants, anxiolytics and analgesics. A robust computational approach may guarantee a reduction in costs in the initial stages of drug discovery, novelty and accurate results. In this work, a virtual screening workflow of a library consisting of ~6 million molecules was set up, with the aim to find potential lead compounds that could manifest activity on the KOR. This in silico study provides a significant contribution in the identification of compounds capable of interacting with a specific molecular target. The main computational techniques adopted in this experimental work include: (i) virtual screening; (ii) drug design and leads optimization; (iii) molecular dynamics. The best hits are tripeptides prepared via solution phase peptide synthesis. These were tested in vivo, revealing a good antinociceptive effect after subcutaneous administration. However, further work is due to delineate their full pharmacological profile, in order to verify the features predicted by the in silico outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azzurra Stefanucci
- Department of Pharmacy, University G. d’Annunzio Chieti, Via dei Vestini 31, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (A.S.); (A.D.V.); (G.S.)
| | - Valeria Iobbi
- Department of Pharmacy (DIFAR), University of Genova, 16128 Genova, Italy;
| | - Alice Della Valle
- Department of Pharmacy, University G. d’Annunzio Chieti, Via dei Vestini 31, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (A.S.); (A.D.V.); (G.S.)
| | - Giuseppe Scioli
- Department of Pharmacy, University G. d’Annunzio Chieti, Via dei Vestini 31, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (A.S.); (A.D.V.); (G.S.)
| | - Stefano Pieretti
- Centro Nazionale Ricerca e Valutazione Preclinica e Clinica dei Farmaci, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy; (S.P.); (P.M.)
| | - Paola Minosi
- Centro Nazionale Ricerca e Valutazione Preclinica e Clinica dei Farmaci, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy; (S.P.); (P.M.)
| | - Sako Mirzaie
- Advanced Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery Laboratory, Leslie L. Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, 27 King’s College Circle, Toronto, ON M5S 1A1, Canada;
| | - Ettore Novellino
- NGN Healthcare, Via Nazionale Torrette, 207, 83013 Mercogliano, Italy;
| | - Adriano Mollica
- Department of Pharmacy, University G. d’Annunzio Chieti, Via dei Vestini 31, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (A.S.); (A.D.V.); (G.S.)
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Stefanucci A, Dimmito MP, Tenore G, Pieretti S, Minosi P, Zengin G, Sturaro C, Calò G, Novellino E, Cichelli A, Mollica A. Plant-derived peptides rubiscolin-6, soymorphin-6 and their c-terminal amide derivatives: Pharmacokinetic properties and biological activity. J Funct Foods 2020; 73:104154. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jff.2020.104154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
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Wojciechowski P, Kleczkowska P, Mollica A, Stefanucci A, Kaczyńska K. Vagal apnea and hypotension evoked by systemic injection of an antinociceptive analogue of endomorphin-2. Eur J Pharmacol 2020; 885:173514. [PMID: 32860810 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2020.173514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2020] [Revised: 08/03/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
PK20M (Dmt-D-Lys-Phe-Phe-OH) is a novel modified endomorphin-2 (EM-2) peptide producing strong dose- and time-dependent antinociceptive activity. Yet its prototype, endogenous EM-2, has been reported to trigger respiratory and vascular effects such as apnea and hypotension. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potency of the PK20M to evoke respiratory and cardiovascular responses in comparison to endogenous endomorphins. The engagement of the vagal pathway and μ opioid receptors in mediation of these responses was investigated. The effects of intravenous injections of PK20M, EM-1, and EM-2 were studied in anaesthetized, spontaneously breathing rats. The main dose-dependent effect of all endomorphins in the intact rats was immediate apnea, blood pressure and heart rate decrease. PK20M produced apnea in at least half of the intact animals in a much smaller dose than EM-1 and EM-2. The effects of all compounds were abrogated by pre-treatment with MNLX, a peripherally acting μ receptor antagonist. Cervical vagotomy eliminated arrest of breathing in the case of each tested compound. Hypotension was reduced by vagi section only after EM-1 and EM-2 administration. Our results demonstrated that apnea and bradycardia caused by systemic injection of all endomorphins were mediated via activation of μ vagal opioid receptors. The hypotension depended on intact vagi nerves only in the case of EM-1 and EM-2, whereas PK20M decreased blood pressure via other mechanisms outside vagal innervation. Modified opioid agonist is more potent in evoking extended hypotension; at the same time, it produces an arrest of breathing less frequently than its prototype EM-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Wojciechowski
- Department of Respiration Physiology, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Patrycja Kleczkowska
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, The Centre for Preclinical Research (CBP), Medical University of Warsaw, Poland
| | - Adriano Mollica
- Department of Pharmacy, University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, 66100, Chieti, Italy
| | - Azzurra Stefanucci
- Department of Pharmacy, University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, 66100, Chieti, Italy
| | - Katarzyna Kaczyńska
- Department of Respiration Physiology, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.
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Adamska-Bartłomiejczyk A, Lipiński PFJ, Piekielna-Ciesielska J, Kluczyk A, Janecka A. Pharmacological Profile and Molecular Modeling of Cyclic Opioid Analogues Incorporating Various Phenylalanine Derivatives. ChemMedChem 2020; 15:1322-1329. [PMID: 32412162 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202000248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Peptide-based agonists of the μ opioid receptor (μOR) are promising therapeutic candidates for pain relief with reduced side effects compared to morphine. A deep understanding of μOR-ligand interactions is necessary for future design of peptide-based opioid analgesics. To explore the requirements of the μOR binding pocket, eight new analogues of our cyclic peptide Tyr-c[d-Lys-Phe-Phe-Asp]NH2 displaying high μOR affinity were synthesized, in which Phe in either the third or fourth position was replaced by various derivatives of this amino acid (β3 -Phe, homoPhe, β3 -homoPhe and PhGly). The aim of this research was to examine the structural effects of such modifications on the bioactivity, and both experimental and theoretical methods were used. The binding of the cyclic analogues to all three OR types (μ, δ, κ) was assessed by radioligand competitive binding assay, and their functional activity was determined in a calcium mobilization assay. In order to provide structural hypotheses explaining the obtained experimental affinities, the complexes of the cyclic peptides with μOR were subjected to molecular modeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Adamska-Bartłomiejczyk
- Department of Biomolecular Chemistry Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Lodz, Mazowiecka 6/8, 92-215, Lodz, Poland
| | - Piotr F J Lipiński
- Department of Neuropeptides Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawińskiego 5, 02-106, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Justyna Piekielna-Ciesielska
- Department of Biomolecular Chemistry Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Lodz, Mazowiecka 6/8, 92-215, Lodz, Poland
| | - Alicja Kluczyk
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Wroclaw, F. Joliot-Curie 14, 50-383, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Anna Janecka
- Department of Biomolecular Chemistry Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Lodz, Mazowiecka 6/8, 92-215, Lodz, Poland
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Piekielna-Ciesielska J, Ferrari F, Calo' G, Janecka A. Cyclopeptide Dmt-[D-Lys-p-CF 3-Phe-Phe-Asp]NH 2, a novel G protein-biased agonist of the mu opioid receptor. Peptides 2018; 101:227-233. [PMID: 29196181 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2017.11.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2017] [Revised: 11/27/2017] [Accepted: 11/28/2017] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Opioid peptides and alkaloid drugs such as morphine, mediate their analgesic effects, but also undesired side effects, mostly through activation of the mu opioid receptor which belongs to the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) family. A new important pharmacological concept in the field of GPCRs is biased agonism. Two mu receptor ligands, Dmt-c[D-Lys-Phe-Phe-Asp]NH2 (C-36) and Dmt-c[D-Lys-Phe-p-CF3-Phe-Asp]NH2 (F-81), were evaluated in terms of their ability to promote or block mu receptor/G protein and mu receptor/β-arrestin interactions. Using the bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) assay it was shown that C-36 activated both, G protein and β-arrestin pathways. Incorporation of trifluoromethyl group into the aromatic ring of phenylalanine in the sequence of F-81 led to activation of G-protein pathway rather than β-arrestin recruitment. Opioid cyclopeptide F-81 turned out to be a biased G protein mu receptor agonist. Such biased ligands are able to separate the biological actions of an activated receptor and have the potential to become more effective drug candidates with fewer side effects.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Federica Ferrari
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology and Italian Institute of Neuroscience, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Girolamo Calo'
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology and Italian Institute of Neuroscience, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Anna Janecka
- Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
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Garg S, Apostolopoulos V, Nurgali K, Mishra VK. Evaluation of in silico approach for prediction of presence of opioid peptides in wheat. J Funct Foods 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jff.2017.12.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
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8
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De Marco R, Gentilucci L. Tryptophan-Containing Non-Cationizable Opioid Peptides - a new chemotype with unusual structure and in vivo activity. Future Med Chem 2017; 9:2099-115. [PMID: 29130348 DOI: 10.4155/fmc-2017-0104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Recently, a new family of opioid peptides containing tryptophan came to the spotlight for the absence of the fundamental protonable tyramine 'message' pharmacophore. Structure-activity relationship investigations led to diverse compounds, characterized by different selectivity profiles and agonist or antagonist effects. Substitution at the indole of Trp clearly impacted peripheral/central antinociceptivity. These peculiarities prompted to gather all the compounds in a new class, and to coin the definition 'Tryptophan-Containing Non-Cationizable Opioid Peptides', in short 'TryCoNCOPs'. Molecular docking analysis suggested that the TryCoNCOPs can still interact with the receptors in an agonist-like fashion. However, most TryCoNCOPs showed significant differences between the in vitro and in vivo activities, suggesting that opioid activity may be elicited also via alternative mechanisms.
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Dvoracsko S, Stefanucci A, Novellino E, Mollica A. The design of multitarget ligands for chronic and neuropathic pain. Future Med Chem 2015; 7:2469-83. [PMID: 26652942 DOI: 10.4155/fmc.15.156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Monodrug therapy has been used with success to fight various pathologies. When one medicine fails, co-administration of two or more drugs at the same time may be successfully applied in the treatment of infections, hypertension, HIV and in many other fields. DISCUSSION This approach has some weakness related to the pharmacokinetic of the two different substances administered, side effects, possible drug-drug interaction. Bivalent ligand approach would maintain the strength of the multidrug therapy (synergistic effect, lower doses, and little side effects) and overcome the weakness of a co-administration. CONCLUSION In this review we have described the state-of-the-art of the multitarget approach for the control of pain. Several approaches adopted by different research groups and future perspectives have been discussed.
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Mollica A, Costante R, Mirzaie S, Carradori S, Macedonio G, Stefanucci A, Novellino E. Preparation of Constrained Unnatural Aromatic Amino Acids viaUnsaturated Diketopiperazine Intermediate. J Heterocycl Chem 2015. [DOI: 10.1002/jhet.2489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Adriano Mollica
- Dipartimento di Farmacia; Università di Chieti-Pescara “G. d'Annunzio”; Via dei Vestini 31 66100 Chieti Italy
| | - Roberto Costante
- Dipartimento di Farmacia; Università di Chieti-Pescara “G. d'Annunzio”; Via dei Vestini 31 66100 Chieti Italy
| | - Sako Mirzaie
- Department of Biochemistry, Sanandaj Branch; Islamic Azad University; Sanandaj Iran
| | - Simone Carradori
- Dipartimento di Farmacia; Università di Chieti-Pescara “G. d'Annunzio”; Via dei Vestini 31 66100 Chieti Italy
| | - Giorgia Macedonio
- Dipartimento di Farmacia; Università di Chieti-Pescara “G. d'Annunzio”; Via dei Vestini 31 66100 Chieti Italy
| | - Azzurra Stefanucci
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Sapienza; Università di Roma; P.le A. Moro 5 00187 Rome Italy
| | - Ettore Novellino
- Dipartimento di Farmacia; Università di Napoli “Federico II”; Via D. Montesano, 49 80131 Naples Italy
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Mollica A, Mirzaie S, Costante R, Carradori S, Macedonio G, Stefanucci A, Dvoracsko S, Novellino E. Exploring the biological consequences of conformational changes in aspartame models containing constrained analogues of phenylalanine. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem 2015; 31:953-63. [PMID: 26308194 DOI: 10.3109/14756366.2015.1076811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The dipeptide aspartame (Asp-Phe-OMe) is a sweetener widely used in replacement of sucrose by food industry. 2',6'-Dimethyltyrosine (DMT) and 2',6'-dimethylphenylalanine (DMP) are two synthetic phenylalanine-constrained analogues, with a limited freedom in χ-space due to the presence of methyl groups in position 2',6' of the aromatic ring. These residues have shown to increase the activity of opioid peptides, such as endomorphins improving the binding to the opioid receptors. In this work, DMT and DMP have been synthesized following a diketopiperazine-mediated route and the corresponding aspartame derivatives (Asp-DMT-OMe and Asp-DMP-OMe) have been evaluated in vivo and in silico for their activity as synthetic sweeteners.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriano Mollica
- a Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università di Chieti-Pescara "G. d'Annunzio" , Chieti , Italy
| | - Sako Mirzaie
- b Department of Biochemistry, Sanandaj Branch , Islamic Azad University , Sanandaj , Iran
| | - Roberto Costante
- a Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università di Chieti-Pescara "G. d'Annunzio" , Chieti , Italy
| | - Simone Carradori
- a Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università di Chieti-Pescara "G. d'Annunzio" , Chieti , Italy
| | - Giorgia Macedonio
- a Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università di Chieti-Pescara "G. d'Annunzio" , Chieti , Italy
| | | | - Szabolcs Dvoracsko
- d Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Centre, Hungarian Academy of Sciences , Temesvari krt , Hungary , and
| | - Ettore Novellino
- e Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università di Napoli "Federico II" , Naples , Italy
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Hu M, Giulianotti MA, Mclaughlin JP, Shao J, Debevec G, Maida LE, Geer P, Cazares M, Misler J, Li L, Dooley C, Ganno ML, Eans SO, Mizrachi E, Santos RG, Yongye AB, Houghten RA, Yu Y. Synthesis and biological evaluations of novel endomorphin analogues containing α-hydroxy-β-phenylalanine (AHPBA) displaying mixed μ/δ opioid receptor agonist and δ opioid receptor antagonist activities. Eur J Med Chem 2015; 92:270-81. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2014.12.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2014] [Accepted: 12/28/2014] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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Crisma M, De Zotti M, Formaggio F, Peggion C, Moretto A, Toniolo C. Handedness preference and switching of peptide helices. Part II: Helices based on noncodedα-amino acids. J Pept Sci 2015; 21:148-77. [DOI: 10.1002/psc.2743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2014] [Revised: 12/19/2014] [Accepted: 12/19/2014] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Marta De Zotti
- Department of Chemistry; University of Padova; Padova Italy
| | - Fernando Formaggio
- ICB; Padova Unit; CNR Padova Italy
- Department of Chemistry; University of Padova; Padova Italy
| | | | - Alessandro Moretto
- ICB; Padova Unit; CNR Padova Italy
- Department of Chemistry; University of Padova; Padova Italy
| | - Claudio Toniolo
- ICB; Padova Unit; CNR Padova Italy
- Department of Chemistry; University of Padova; Padova Italy
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Mollica A, Stefanucci A, Costante R, Hruby VJ. Rational Approach to the Design of Bioactive Peptidomimetics: Recent Developments in Opioid Agonist Peptides. Studies in Natural Products Chemistry 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-444-63462-7.00002-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
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15
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Wu D, Zhu J, Sheng C, Wang W, Li J. Synthesis of γ-Oxo-α,β-dehydro-α-amino Acids fromN-tert-Butyloxycarbonyl-α-Imino Esters and Carbonylmethyl 2-Pyridinylsulfones via an Mannich-Elimination Cascade. ASIAN J ORG CHEM 2014. [DOI: 10.1002/ajoc.201402051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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Haseena banu B, Prasad K, Bharathi K. Synthesis and biological evaluation of N-dehydrodipeptidyl-N,N′-dicyclohexylurea analogs. Eur J Med Chem 2014; 78:72-85. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2014.03.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2013] [Revised: 01/14/2014] [Accepted: 03/12/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Bahar AA, Ren D. Antimicrobial peptides. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2013; 6:1543-75. [PMID: 24287494 DOI: 10.3390/ph6121543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 808] [Impact Index Per Article: 73.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2013] [Revised: 11/21/2013] [Accepted: 11/25/2013] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The rapid increase in drug-resistant infections has presented a serious challenge to antimicrobial therapies. The failure of the most potent antibiotics to kill “superbugs” emphasizes the urgent need to develop other control agents. Here we review the history and new development of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), a growing class of natural and synthetic peptides with a wide spectrum of targets including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites. We summarize the major types of AMPs, their modes of action, and the common mechanisms of AMP resistance. In addition, we discuss the principles for designing effective AMPs and the potential of using AMPs to control biofilms (multicellular structures of bacteria embedded in extracellular matrixes) and persister cells (dormant phenotypic variants of bacterial cells that are highly tolerant to antibiotics).
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Mollica A, Costante R, Stefanucci A, Pinnen F, Luisi G, Pieretti S, Borsodi A, Bojnik E, Benyhe S. Hybrid peptides endomorphin-2/DAMGO: Design, synthesis and biological evaluation. Eur J Med Chem 2013; 68:167-77. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2013.07.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2013] [Revised: 07/03/2013] [Accepted: 07/05/2013] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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Lesma G, Salvadori S, Airaghi F, Murray TF, Recca T, Sacchetti A, Balboni G, Silvani A. Structural and biological exploration of phe(3)-phe(4)-modified endomorphin-2 peptidomimetics. ACS Med Chem Lett 2013; 4:795-9. [PMID: 24900748 DOI: 10.1021/ml400189r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2013] [Accepted: 07/11/2013] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
This study reports on our ongoing investigation on hybrid EM-2 analogues, in which the great potential of β-amino acids was exploited to generate multiple conformational modifications at the key positions 3 and 4 of the parent peptide. The effect on the opioid binding affinity was evaluated, by means of ligand stimulated binding assays, which indicated a high nanomolar affinity toward the μ-receptor, with appreciable μ/δ selectivity, for some of the new compounds. The three-dimensional properties of the high affinity μ opioid receptor (MOR) ligands were investigated by proton nuclear magnetic resonance, molecular dynamics, and docking studies. In solution, the structures showed extended conformations, which are in agreement with the commonly accepted pharmacophore model for EM-2. From docking studies on an active form of the MOR model, different ligand-receptor interactions have been identified, thus confirming the ability of active compounds to assume a biologically active conformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giordano Lesma
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Milano, via C. Golgi, 19, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Severo Salvadori
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Ferrara, via Fossato
di Mortara 17-19, 44100 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Francesco Airaghi
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Milano, via C. Golgi, 19, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Thomas F. Murray
- Department of Pharmacology, Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, Nebraska 68102,
United States
| | - Teresa Recca
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Milano, via C. Golgi, 19, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Alessandro Sacchetti
- Dipartimento
di Chimica, Materiali ed Ingegneria Chimica ‘Giulio Natta’, Politecnico di Milano, p.zza Leonardo
da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Gianfranco Balboni
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell’Ambiente, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Via Ospedale
72, 09124 Cagliari, Italy
| | - Alessandra Silvani
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Milano, via C. Golgi, 19, 20133 Milano, Italy
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Baranov MS, Lukyanov KA, Yampolsky IV. Synthesis of the chromophores of fluorescent proteins and their analogs. Russ J Bioorg Chem 2013; 39:255-76. [DOI: 10.1134/s1068162013030047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Liu X, Wang Y, Xing Y, Yu J, Ji H, Kai M, Wang Z, Wang D, Zhang Y, Zhao D, Wang R. Design, synthesis, and pharmacological characterization of novel endomorphin-1 analogues as extremely potent μ-opioid agonists. J Med Chem 2013; 56:3102-14. [PMID: 23477419 DOI: 10.1021/jm400195y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Recently we reported the synthesis and structure-activity study of endomorphin-1 (EM-1) analogues containing novel, unnatural α-methylene-β-aminopropanoic acids (Map). In the present study, we describe new EM-1 analogues containing Dmt(1), (R/S)-βPro(2), and (ph)Map(4)/(2-furyl)Map(4). All of the analogues showed a high affinity for the μ-opioid receptor (MOR) and increased stability in mouse brain homogenates. Of the new compounds, Dmt(1)-(R)-βPro(2)-Trp(3)-(2-furyl)Map(4) (analogue 12) displayed the highest affinity toward MOR, in the picomolar range (Ki(μ) = 3.72 pM). Forskolin-induced cAMP accumulation assays indicated that this analogue displayed an extremely high agonistic potency, in the subpicomolar range (EC50 = 0.0421 pM, Emax = 99.5%). This compound also displayed stronger in vivo antinociceptive activity after iv administration when compared to morphine in the tail-flick test, which indicates that this analogue was able to cross the blood-brain barrier.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Liu
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
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Lesma G, Salvadori S, Airaghi F, Bojnik E, Borsodi A, Recca T, Sacchetti A, Balboni G, Silvani A. Synthesis, pharmacological evaluation and conformational investigation of endomorphin-2 hybrid analogues. Mol Divers 2013; 17:19-31. [DOI: 10.1007/s11030-012-9399-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2012] [Accepted: 09/24/2012] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
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Mollica A, Pinnen F, Stefanucci A, Mannina L, Sobolev AP, Lucente G, Davis P, Lai J, Ma SW, Porreca F, Hruby VJ. cis-4-Amino-l-proline Residue As a Scaffold for the Synthesis of Cyclic and Linear Endomorphin-2 Analogues: Part 2. J Med Chem 2012; 55:8477-82. [DOI: 10.1021/jm300947s] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Adriano Mollica
- Dipartimento
di Scienze del Farmaco, Università di Chieti-Pescara “G. d′Annunzio”, Via dei Vestini
31, 66100 Chieti, Italy
| | - Francesco Pinnen
- Dipartimento
di Scienze del Farmaco, Università di Chieti-Pescara “G. d′Annunzio”, Via dei Vestini
31, 66100 Chieti, Italy
| | - Azzurra Stefanucci
- Dipartimento
di Scienze del Farmaco, Università di Chieti-Pescara “G. d′Annunzio”, Via dei Vestini
31, 66100 Chieti, Italy
| | - Luisa Mannina
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco, Sapienza Università di Roma, P.le A. Moro 5, 00185 Rome,
Italy
- Laboratorio di Risonanza
Magnetica “Annalaura Segre”, Istituto di Metodologie Chimiche, CNR, Via Salaria Km 29.300, 00015
Monterotondo, Rome, Italy
| | - Anatoly P. Sobolev
- Laboratorio di Risonanza
Magnetica “Annalaura Segre”, Istituto di Metodologie Chimiche, CNR, Via Salaria Km 29.300, 00015
Monterotondo, Rome, Italy
| | - Gino Lucente
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco e Istituto di Chimica
Biomolecolare, CNR Sezione di Roma, “Sapienza”, Università di Roma, P.le A. Moro 5, 00185 Roma,
Italy
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Saavedra CJ, Boto A, Hernández R. “Customizable” Units in Di- and Tripeptides: Selective Conversion into Substituted Dehydroamino Acids. Org Lett 2012; 14:3788-91. [DOI: 10.1021/ol301676z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Carlos J. Saavedra
- Instituto de Productos Naturales y Agrobiología CSIC, Avda. Astrofísico Fco. Sánchez 3, 38206 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
| | - Alicia Boto
- Instituto de Productos Naturales y Agrobiología CSIC, Avda. Astrofísico Fco. Sánchez 3, 38206 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
| | - Rosendo Hernández
- Instituto de Productos Naturales y Agrobiología CSIC, Avda. Astrofísico Fco. Sánchez 3, 38206 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
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Mollica A, Pinnen F, Stefanucci A, Feliciani F, Campestre C, Mannina L, Sobolev AP, Lucente G, Davis P, Lai J, Ma SW, Porreca F, Hruby VJ. The cis-4-amino-L-proline residue as a scaffold for the synthesis of cyclic and linear endomorphin-2 analogues. J Med Chem 2012; 55:3027-35. [PMID: 22394120 DOI: 10.1021/jm201402v] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Endomorphin-2 (EM-2: Tyr-Pro-Phe-Phe-NH(2)) is an endogenous tetrapeptide that combines potency and efficacy with high affinity and selectivity toward the μ opioid receptor, the most responsible for analgesic effects in the central nervous system. The presence of the Pro(2) represents a crucial factor for the ligand structural and conformational properties. Proline is in fact an efficient stereochemical spacer, capable of inducing favorable spatial orientation of aromatic rings, a key factor for ligand recognition and interaction with receptors. Here the Pro(2) has been replaced by 4(S)-NH(2)-2(S)-proline (cAmp), a proline/GABA cis-chimera residue. This bivalent amino acid maintains the capacity to influenc the tetrapeptide conformation and offers the opportunity to generate new linear models and unusually constrained cyclic analogues characterized by an N-terminal Tyr bearing a free α-amino group. The results indicate that the new analogues do not show affinity for both δ and κ opioid receptors and bind only poorly to the μ receptors (for cyclopeptide 9: K(i)(μ) = 660 nM; GPI (IC(50)) = 1.4% at 1 μM; for linear tetrapeptide acid 13: K(i)(μ) = 2000 nM; GPI (IC(50)) = 0% at 1 μM; for linear tetrapeptide amide 15: K(i)(μ) = 310 nM; GPI (IC(50)) = 894 nM).
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriano Mollica
- Dipartimento di Scienze del Farmaco, Università di Chieti-Pescara G. d'Annunzio, Via dei Vestini 31, 66100 Chieti, Italy.
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION Although endomorphins-1 (EM-1; H-Tyr-Pro-Phe-Trp-NH(2)) and -2 (EM-2; H-Tyr-Pro-Phe-Phe-NH(2)) are primarily considered agonists for the μ-opioid receptor (MOR), systematic alterations to specific residues provided antagonists and ligands with mixed μ/δ-opioid properties, suitable for application to health-related topics. While the application of endomorphins as antinociceptive agents and numerous biological endpoints were experimentally delineated in laboratory animals and in vitro, clinical use is currently absent. However, structural alterations provide enhanced stability; formation of MOR antagonists or mixed and dual μ/δ-acting ligands could find considerable therapeutic potential. AREAS COVERED This review attempts to succinctly provide insight on the development and bioactivity of endomorphin analogues during the past decade. Rational design approaches will focus on the engineering of endomorphin agonists, antagonists and mixed ligands for their application as a multi-target ligand. EXPERT OPINION Aside from alleviating pain, EM analogues open new horizons in the treatment of medical syndromes involving neural reward mechanisms and extraneural regulation effects on homeostasis. Highly selective MOR antagonists may be promising to reduce inflammation, attenuate addiction to drugs and excess consumption of high-caloric food, ameliorate alcoholism, affect the immune system and combat opioid bowel dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lawrence H Lazarus
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Laboratory of Toxicology and Pharmacology, 111 South TW Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
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Abstract
This paper is the thirty-third consecutive installment of the annual review of research concerning the endogenous opioid system. It summarizes papers published during 2010 that studied the behavioral effects of molecular, pharmacological and genetic manipulation of opioid peptides, opioid receptors, opioid agonists and opioid antagonists. The particular topics that continue to be covered include the molecular-biochemical effects and neurochemical localization studies of endogenous opioids and their receptors related to behavior (Section 2), and the roles of these opioid peptides and receptors in pain and analgesia (Section 3); stress and social status (Section 4); tolerance and dependence (Section 5); learning and memory (Section 6); eating and drinking (Section 7); alcohol and drugs of abuse (Section 8); sexual activity and hormones, pregnancy, development and endocrinology (Section 9); mental illness and mood (Section 10); seizures and neurologic disorders (Section 11); electrical-related activity and neurophysiology (Section 12); general activity and locomotion (Section 13); gastrointestinal, renal and hepatic functions (Section 14); cardiovascular responses (Section 15); respiration (Section 16); and immunological responses (Section 17).
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard J Bodnar
- Department of Psychology and Neuropsychology Doctoral Sub-Program, Queens College, City University of New York, Flushing, NY 11367, USA.
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