Biomaterial Database

Novel stable analogues of the neurotensin C-terminal hexapeptide containing unnatural amino acids. 2019

Vassiliki Magafa, and Minos-Timotheos Matsoukas, and Vlasios Karageorgos, and Eirini Dermitzaki, and Revekka Exarchakou, and Evgenios Κ Stylos, and Michail Pardalos, and Andrew N Margioris, and George Varvounis, and Andreas G Tzakos, and Georgios A Spyroulias, and George Liapakis

Department of Pharmacy, University of Patras, 26504, Rion, Greece. magafa@upatras.gr.

Neurotensin (NT) (pGlu-Leu-Tyr-Glu-Asn-Lys-Pro-Arg-Arg-Pro-Tyr-Ile-Leu) exerts a dual function as a neurotransmitter/neuromodulator in the central nervous system and as a hormone/cellular mediator in periphery. This dual function of NT establishes a connection between brain and peripheral tissues that renders this peptide a central player in energy homeostasis. Many biological actions of NT are mediated through its interaction with three types of NT receptors (NTS receptors). Despite its role in energy homeostasis, NT has a short half-life that hampers further determination of the biological actions of this peptide and its receptors in brain and periphery. The short half-life of NT is due to the proteolytic degradation of its C-terminal side by several endopeptidases. Therefore, it is important to synthesize NT analogues with resistant bonds against metabolic deactivation. Based on these findings, we herein report the synthesis of ten linear, two cyclic and two dimeric analogues of NT with modifications in its structure that improve their metabolic stability, while retaining the ability to bind to NTS receptors. Modifications at position 11 (introduction of D-Tyrosine (OEthyl) [D-Tyr(Et)] or D-1-naphtylalanine [D-1-Nal] were combined with introduction of a L-Lysine or a D-Arginine at positions 8 or 9, and 1-[2-(aminophenyl)-2-oxoethyl]-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxylic acid (AOPC) at positions 7 or 8, resulting in compounds NT4-NT21. AOPC is an unnatural amino acid with promise in applications as a building block for the synthesis of peptidomimetic compounds. To biologically evaluate these analogues, we determined their plasma stability and their binding affinities to type 1 NT receptor (NTS1), endogenously expressed in HT-29 cells, Among the fourteen NT analogues, compounds, NT5, NT6, and NT8, which have D-Tyr(Et) at position 11, bound to NTS1 in a dose-response manner and with relatively high affinity but still lower than that of the natural peptide. Despite their lower binding affinities compared to NT, the NT5, NT6, and NT8 exhibited a remarkably higher stability, as a result of their chemistry, which provides protection from enzymatic activity. These results will set the basis for the rational design of novel NT molecules with improved pharmacological properties and enhanced enzymatic stability.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008958	Models, Molecular	Models used experimentally or theoretically to study molecular shape, electronic properties, or interactions; includes analogous molecules, computer-generated graphics, and mechanical structures.	Molecular Models,Model, Molecular,Molecular Model
D009496	Neurotensin	A biologically active tridecapeptide isolated from the hypothalamus. It has been shown to induce hypotension in the rat, to stimulate contraction of guinea pig ileum and rat uterus, and to cause relaxation of rat duodenum. There is also evidence that it acts as both a peripheral and a central nervous system neurotransmitter.
D002851	Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid	Liquid chromatographic techniques which feature high inlet pressures, high sensitivity, and high speed.	Chromatography, High Performance Liquid,Chromatography, High Speed Liquid,Chromatography, Liquid, High Pressure,HPLC,High Performance Liquid Chromatography,High-Performance Liquid Chromatography,UPLC,Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography,Chromatography, High-Performance Liquid,High-Performance Liquid Chromatographies,Liquid Chromatography, High-Performance
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000595	Amino Acid Sequence	The order of amino acids as they occur in a polypeptide chain. This is referred to as the primary structure of proteins. It is of fundamental importance in determining PROTEIN CONFORMATION.	Protein Structure, Primary,Amino Acid Sequences,Sequence, Amino Acid,Sequences, Amino Acid,Primary Protein Structure,Primary Protein Structures,Protein Structures, Primary,Structure, Primary Protein,Structures, Primary Protein
D000596	Amino Acids	Organic compounds that generally contain an amino (-NH2) and a carboxyl (-COOH) group. Twenty alpha-amino acids are the subunits which are polymerized to form proteins.	Amino Acid,Acid, Amino,Acids, Amino
D013058	Mass Spectrometry	An analytical method used in determining the identity of a chemical based on its mass using mass analyzers/mass spectrometers.	Mass Spectroscopy,Spectrometry, Mass,Spectroscopy, Mass,Spectrum Analysis, Mass,Analysis, Mass Spectrum,Mass Spectrum Analysis,Analyses, Mass Spectrum,Mass Spectrum Analyses,Spectrum Analyses, Mass
D056004	Molecular Dynamics Simulation	A computer simulation developed to study the motion of molecules over a period of time.	Molecular Dynamics Simulations,Molecular Dynamics,Dynamic, Molecular,Dynamics Simulation, Molecular,Dynamics Simulations, Molecular,Dynamics, Molecular,Molecular Dynamic,Simulation, Molecular Dynamics,Simulations, Molecular Dynamics
D057786	Peptidomimetics	Compounds that are designed to mimic the 3D structure of a natural peptide or protein.	Peptidomimetic
D060326	Chemistry Techniques, Synthetic	Methods used for the chemical synthesis of compounds. Included under this heading are laboratory methods used to synthesize a variety of chemicals and drugs.	Inorganic Synthesis,Inorganic Synthesis Methods,Inorganic Synthesis Techniques,Methods of Inorganic Synthesis,Methods of Organic Synthesis,Methods of Peptide Synthesis,Organic Synthesis,Organic Synthesis Methods,Organic Synthesis Techniques,Peptide Synthesis Methods,Peptide Synthesis Techniques,Peptide Synthesis, Synthetic,Synthetic Chemistry Techniques,Synthetic Peptide Synthesis,Chemistry Technique, Synthetic,Inorganic Syntheses,Inorganic Synthesis Method,Inorganic Synthesis Technique,Method, Inorganic Synthesis,Method, Organic Synthesis,Method, Peptide Synthesis,Methods, Inorganic Synthesis,Methods, Organic Synthesis,Methods, Peptide Synthesis,Organic Syntheses,Organic Synthesis Technique,Peptide Syntheses, Synthetic,Peptide Synthesis Method,Peptide Synthesis Technique,Syntheses, Inorganic,Syntheses, Organic,Syntheses, Synthetic Peptide,Synthesis Method, Inorganic,Synthesis Method, Peptide,Synthesis Methods, Inorganic,Synthesis Methods, Peptide,Synthesis Technique, Inorganic,Synthesis Technique, Organic,Synthesis Technique, Peptide,Synthesis Techniques, Inorganic,Synthesis Techniques, Organic,Synthesis Techniques, Peptide,Synthesis, Inorganic,Synthesis, Organic,Synthesis, Synthetic Peptide,Synthetic Chemistry Technique,Synthetic Peptide Syntheses,Technique, Inorganic Synthesis,Technique, Organic Synthesis,Technique, Peptide Synthesis,Technique, Synthetic Chemistry,Techniques, Inorganic Synthesis,Techniques, Organic Synthesis,Techniques, Peptide Synthesis,Techniques, Synthetic Chemistry