Transformation of mu-opioid receptor agonists into biologically potent mu-opioid receptor antagonists

Bioorg Med Chem. 2007 Feb 1;15(3):1237-51. doi: 10.1016/j.bmc.2006.11.019. Epub 2006 Nov 14.

Abstract

N-Allylation (-CH(2)-CHCH(2)) of [Dmt(1)]endomorphins yielded the following: (i) [N-allyl-Dmt(1)]endomorphin-2 (Dmt=2',6'-dimethyl-l-tyrosine) (12) and [N-allyl-Dmt(1)]endomorphin-1 (15) (K(i)mu=0.45 and 0.26nM, respectively) became mu-antagonists (pA(2)=8.59 and 8.18, respectively) with weak delta-antagonism (pA(2)=6.32 and 7.32, respectively); (ii) intracerebroventricularly administered 12 inhibited morphine-induced CNS-mediated antinociception in mice [AD(50) (0.148ng/mouse) was 16-fold more potent than naloxone], but not spinal antinociception, and (iii) 15 reversed the alcohol-elevated frequency in spontaneous inhibitory post-synaptic currents (IPSC) in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cells in rat brain slices (P=0.0055). Similarly, N-allylation of the potent mu-opioidmimetic agonists, 1,6-bis-[H-Dmt-NH]-hexane and 3,6-bis-[Dmt-NH-propyl]-2(1H)-pyrazinone, converted them into mu-antagonists (pA(2)=7.23 and 7.17 for the N-allyl-derivatives 17 and 19, respectively), and exhibited weak delta-antagonism. Thus, N-allylation of Dmt containing opioid peptides or opioidmimetics continues to provide a facile means to convert selective mu-opioid agonists into potent mu-opioid antagonists.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Alkylation
  • Analgesics, Opioid / therapeutic use*
  • Animals
  • Brain / drug effects*
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Guinea Pigs
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Morphine / adverse effects
  • Pain / chemically induced
  • Pain / drug therapy*
  • Rats
  • Receptors, Opioid, mu / agonists*
  • Receptors, Opioid, mu / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Synaptosomes / drug effects*
  • Synaptosomes / metabolism
  • Vas Deferens / drug effects*

Substances

  • Analgesics, Opioid
  • Receptors, Opioid, mu
  • Morphine