Peptide leukotrienes are potent constrictors of airway smooth muscle but lack chemical stability. Replacement of the natural triene backbone of leukotrienes with 9-(x-heptylphenyl)-7-nonenoic acid (x = 2, 3, or 4) renders these analogs chemically stable and pharmacologically active. The para, meta and ortho substitutions of the heptyl (C7H15) moiety were combined with the different leukotriene peptide substitutions of glutathionyl, C-peptide of leukotriene C4, cysteinylglycinyl, D-peptide of leukotriene D4, and cysteinyl, E-peptide of leukotriene E4 rendering nine active analogs. The pharmacology of these analogs was evaluated in isolated guinea-pig tracheal strips. The para-substituted C-peptide analog was the most potent; however, it was 100-fold less potent than leukotriene C4. The contractile activities of the para- and meta-substituted C-peptide analogs were enhanced by L-serine borate (45 mM), indicating they were substrates for gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase. FPL55712 (10 microM) failed to antagonize the substituted C-peptide analogs independent of the presence of L-serine borate. The contractile activities of the three substituted D-peptide analogs were enhanced by L-cysteine, indicating they are all substrates for aminopeptidase. The para-substituted D-peptide analog was the most potent D-peptide analog, but it was 10- and 1,000-fold less active than the para-substituted C-peptide analog and leukotriene D4, respectively. The para- and meta-substituted E-peptide analogs were approximately 1,000-fold less potent than leukotriene E4, and like the substituted D-peptide analogs, they were antagonized by FPL55712. In contrast, the ortho-substituted E-peptide analog was devoid of intrinsic activity but antagonized leukotriene E4-induced contractions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)