Design, synthesis, and pharmacological characterization of novel endomorphin-1 analogues as extremely potent μ-opioid agonists

J Med Chem. 2013 Apr 11;56(7):3102-14. doi: 10.1021/jm400195y. Epub 2013 Mar 28.

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.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Analgesics / chemical synthesis
  • Analgesics / chemistry
  • Analgesics / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Cyclic AMP / metabolism
  • Drug Design
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System
  • Mice
  • Models, Molecular
  • Oligopeptides / chemical synthesis
  • Oligopeptides / chemistry*
  • Oligopeptides / pharmacology*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Receptors, Opioid, mu / agonists*

Substances

  • Analgesics
  • Oligopeptides
  • Receptors, Opioid, mu
  • endomorphin 1
  • Cyclic AMP