Design and Synthesis of an Investigational Nonapeptide KISS1 Receptor (KISS1R) Agonist, Ac-d-Tyr-Hydroxyproline (Hyp)-Asn-Thr-Phe-azaGly-Leu-Arg(Me)-Trp-NH2 (TAK-448), with Highly Potent Testosterone-Suppressive Activity and Excellent Water Solubility

J Med Chem. 2016 Oct 13;59(19):8804-8811. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.6b00379. Epub 2016 Sep 21.

Abstract

Metastin/kisspeptin is an endogenous ligand of KISS1 Receptor (KISS1R). Metastin and KISS1R are suggested to play crucial roles in regulating the secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), and continuous administration of metastin derivatives attenuated the plasma testosterone levels in male rats. Our optimization studies of metastin derivatives led to the discovery of 1 (Ac-d-Tyr-d-Trp-Asn-Thr-Phe-azaGly-Leu-Arg(Me)-Trp-NH2, TAK-683), which suppressed plasma testosterone in rats at lower doses than those of leuprolide. Although 1 possessed extremely potent pharmacological activity, 20 mg/mL aqueous solution of 1 has a gel formation property. In order to improve this physicochemical property, we substituted d-Trp at position 47 with a variety of amino acids; we identified that substitution with cyclic amino acids, which could change peptide conformation, retained its potency. Especially, analogue 24 (TAK-448) with trans-4-hydroxyproline (Hyp) at position 47 showed not only superior pharmacological activity to 1 but also excellent water solubility. Furthermore, 20 mg/mL aqueous solution of 24 did not show gel formation up to 5 days.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • CHO Cells
  • Cricetulus
  • Humans
  • Kisspeptins / administration & dosage
  • Kisspeptins / blood
  • Kisspeptins / chemistry*
  • Kisspeptins / pharmacology*
  • Male
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / agonists*
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / metabolism
  • Receptors, Kisspeptin-1
  • Solubility
  • Testosterone / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Testosterone / blood
  • Testosterone / metabolism

Substances

  • KISS1R protein, human
  • Kisspeptins
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
  • Receptors, Kisspeptin-1
  • TAK-683
  • Testosterone