Novel Nociceptin Analogues: Synthesis and Biological Activity

Abstract

Syntheses are described of the nociceptin (1–13) amide [NC(1–13)-NH2] and of several analogues in which either one or both the phenylalanine residues (positions 1 and 4), the arginine residues (positions 8 and 12) and the alanine residues (positions 7 and 11) have been replaced by N-benzyl-glycine, N-(3-guanidino-propyl)-glycine and β-alanine, respectively. The preparation is also described of NC(1–13)-NH2 analogues in which either galactose or N-acetyl-galactosamine are β-O-glycosidically linked to Thr5 and/or to Ser10. Preliminary pharmacological experiments on mouse vas deferens preparations showed that Phe4, Thr5, Ala7 and Arg8 are crucial residues for OP4 receptor activation. Manipulation of Phe1 yielded peptides endowed with antagonist activity but [Nphe1] NC(1–13)-NH2 acted as an antagonist still possessing weak agonist activity. Introduction of the βAla residue either in position 7 or 11 of the [Nphe1] NC(1–13)-NH2 sequence, abolished any residual agonist activity and [Nphe1, βAla7] NC(1–13)-NH2 and [Nphe1, βAla11] NC(1–13)-NH2 acted as competitive antagonists only. Modification of both Ala7 and Ala11 abolished the antagonist activity of [Nphe1]NC(1–13)-NH2 probably by hindering receptor binding. Changes at positions 10 and 11 gave analogues still possessing agonist activity. [Ser(βGal)10] NC(1–13)-NH2 displayed an activity comparable with that of NC(1–13)-NH2, [Ser(βGalNAc)10] NC(1–13)-NH2 and [βAla11] NC(1–13)-NH2 were five and 10 times less active, respectively.