Irreversible labelling of the opioid receptors by a melphalan-substituted [Met5]enkephalin-Arg-Phe derivative

Sartania, N. , Szatmári I,, I., Orosz, G., Rónai, A.Z., Medzihradszky, K., Borsodi, A. and Benyhe, S. (1999) Irreversible labelling of the opioid receptors by a melphalan-substituted [Met5]enkephalin-Arg-Phe derivative. European Journal of Pharmacology, 373(2-3), pp. 241-249.

Abstract

[Met5]enkephalin-Arg-Phe (Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Met-Arg-Phe) was modified with the methyl esther of melphalan (Mel; 4-bis(2-chloroethyl)amino-L-phenylalanine) and the resulting compounds were studied for their opioid binding properties in guinea pig and rat brain membranes. Three new peptides, with a substitution of a single amino acid, were synthesized (Mel-Gly-Gly-Phe-Met-Arg-Phe, Tyr-Gly-Gly-Mel-Met-Arg-Phe and Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Met-Arg-Mel). In the rat brain, none of these ligands displayed any type specificity, whereas in guinea pig brain membranes the C-terminally modified peptide, Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Met-Arg-Mel ([Mel7]peptide), displayed a kappa-binding profile and was a weak kappa-opioid-receptor agonist in isolated guinea pig ileum. The effect of sodium ions on [Mel7]peptide competition against [3H]naloxone binding indicated a weak agonist nature of the compound. When guinea pig brain membranes were preincubated with 1-10 microM of [Mel7]peptide, an apparently irreversible inhibition of [3H]naloxone ligand binding was observed. These results suggest that the heptapeptide containing melphalan at the C-terminus can be used as a relatively high-affinity irreversible label for the kappa-opioid receptor.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Sartania, Professor Nana
• Authors: Sartania, N., Szatmári I,, I., Orosz, G., Rónai, A.Z., Medzihradszky, K., Borsodi, A., and Benyhe, S.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing
• Journal Name: European Journal of Pharmacology
• Journal Abbr.: Eur. J. Pharmacol.
• ISSN: 0014-2999
• ISSN (Online): 1879-0712