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1. To elucidate the structural features required for selective and potent action of dermenkephalin at the delta-opioid receptor, a series of analogues of dermenkephalin and dermorphin were tested for their effectiveness in depressing electrically-evoked contractions of the vas deferens of the hamster (delta-opioid receptors) and the guinea-pig myenteric plexus-longitudinal muscle preparation (mu- and kappa-opioid receptors). 2. Dermenkephalin was more selective and more potent at delta-receptors than the delta-ligand [D-Pen2, D-Pen5]-enkephalin. The responses to dermenkephalin in the hamster vas deferens were increased by addition of peptidase inhibitors; the maximum effect was obtained with 3 microM thiorphan. 3. [L-Met2]-dermenkephalin had 0.2% and [L-Ala2]-dermorphin 0.01% of the agonist activity of the corresponding endogenous peptides which have D-amino acids in position 2. The pharmacological activity of these analogues was unaffected by inhibition of peptidases. This emphasizes the role that the D-configuration plays in determining the bioactive folding of these highly active peptides. 4. Dermenkephalin-(1-6)-NH2 was more potent at delta-receptors than at mu-receptors whereas, dermenkephalin-(1-4)-NH2 is a selective mu-agonist, having no activity at delta-receptors. 5. Substitution of the C-terminal tripeptide of dermorphin with the C-terminal tripeptide of dermenkephalin abolished the mu-receptor preference of dermorphin. The resulting hybrid peptide, Tyr-D-Ala-Phe-Gly-Leu-Met-Asp-NH2 was as potent as dermenkephalin at delta-receptors. A shift towards a preference for delta-receptors was obtained when the C-terminal tetrapeptide of dermorphin was replaced by the C-terminal tetrapeptide of dermenkephalin. 6. Substitution of Asp by Asn in position 7 of dermenkephalin caused an increase in mu-receptor potency and a decrease in delta-receptor potency, resulting in a 20 fold decrease in mu-receptor selectivity. Dermenkephalin-(1-6)-NH2 and [Asn7]-dermenkephalin have almost identical delta-receptor agonist potencies and ratios of IC50 in the myenteric plexus to IC50 in the hamster vas deferens. 7. The results obtained emphasise the importance of a negative charge at the C-terminus of dermenkephalin for selectivity at the delta-opioid receptor. Furthermore, the hydrophobic residues Leu5 and Met6 may be critical in ensuring tight binding to the receptor which results in high agonist potency.
S Sagan, and
A D Corbett, and
M Amiche, and
A Delfour, and
P Nicolas, and
H W Kosterlitz
January 1985,
Toxicon : official journal of the International Society on Toxinology,
S Sagan, and
A D Corbett, and
M Amiche, and
A Delfour, and
P Nicolas, and
H W Kosterlitz
July 1975,
Life sciences,
S Sagan, and
A D Corbett, and
M Amiche, and
A Delfour, and
P Nicolas, and
H W Kosterlitz
April 1992,
British journal of pharmacology,
S Sagan, and
A D Corbett, and
M Amiche, and
A Delfour, and
P Nicolas, and
H W Kosterlitz
August 1985,
British journal of pharmacology,
S Sagan, and
A D Corbett, and
M Amiche, and
A Delfour, and
P Nicolas, and
H W Kosterlitz
April 1990,
European journal of pharmacology,
S Sagan, and
A D Corbett, and
M Amiche, and
A Delfour, and
P Nicolas, and
H W Kosterlitz
November 1985,
Neuroscience letters,
S Sagan, and
A D Corbett, and
M Amiche, and
A Delfour, and
P Nicolas, and
H W Kosterlitz
January 1982,
Life sciences,
S Sagan, and
A D Corbett, and
M Amiche, and
A Delfour, and
P Nicolas, and
H W Kosterlitz
December 1984,
Neuropeptides,
S Sagan, and
A D Corbett, and
M Amiche, and
A Delfour, and
P Nicolas, and
H W Kosterlitz
May 1985,
British journal of pharmacology,
S Sagan, and
A D Corbett, and
M Amiche, and
A Delfour, and
P Nicolas, and
H W Kosterlitz
May 1972,
British journal of pharmacology,
