Opioid Peptides: Potential for Drug Development

Opioid receptors are important targets for the treatment of pain and potentially for other disease states (e.g. mood disorders and drug abuse) as well. Significant recent advances have been made in identifying opioid peptide analogs that exhibit promising in vivo activity for treatment of these maladies. This review focuses on the development and evaluation of opioid peptide analogs demonstrating activity after systemic administration, and recent clinical evaluations of opioid peptides for possible therapeutic use

The Effects of C-terminal Modifications on the Opioid Activity of [N-BenzylTyr1]Dynorphin A-(1-11) Analogs

Structural modifications affecting the efficacy of analogs of the endogenous opioid peptide dynorphin (Dyn) A have focused on the N-terminal “message” sequence, based on the “messageaddress” concept. To test the hypothesis that changes in the C-terminal “address” domain could affect efficacy, modified amino acids and cyclic constraints were incorporated into this region of the partial agonist [N-benzylTyr1]Dyn A-(1-11). Modifications in the C-terminal domain of [NbenzylTyr1] Dyn A-(1-11)NH2 resulted in increased kappa opioid receptor (KOR) affinity for all of the linear analogs, but did not affect the efficacy of these peptides at KOR. Cyclization between positions 5 and 8 yielded [N-benzylTyr1,cyclo(D-Asp5,Dap8)]Dyn A-(1-11)NH2 (13) (Patkar et al. J. Med. Chem. 2005, 48, 4500-4503) with high selectivity for KOR. In contrast to the linear peptides, this peptide exhibits negligible efficacy in the AC assay and is a KOR antagonist. These data are consistent with our hypothesis that appropriate modifications in the “address” domain of Dyn A analogs may affect efficacy

Structure-Activity Relationships of the Peptide Kappa Opioid Receptor Antagonist Zyklophin

The dynorphin (Dyn) A analog zyklophin ([N-benzyl-Tyr1-cyclo(D-Asp5,Dap8)]dynorphin A(1-11)NH2) is a kappa opioid receptor (KOR) selective antagonist in vitro, is active in vivo and antagonizes KOR in the CNS after systemic administration. Hence, we synthesized zyklophin analogs to explore the structure-activity relationships of this peptide. The synthesis of selected analogs required modification to introduce the N-terminal amino acid due to poor solubility and/or to avoid epimerization of this residue. Among the N-terminal modifications the N-phenethyl and the N-cyclopropylmethyl substitutions resulted in the analogs with the highest KOR affinities. Pharmacological results for the alanine-substituted analogs indicated that Phe4 and Arg6, but interestingly not the Tyr1, phenol are important for zyklophin’s KOR affinity, and Arg7 was important for KOR antagonist activity. In the GTPγS assay while all of the cyclic analogs exhibited negligible KOR efficacy, the N-phenethyl-Tyr1, N-CPM-Tyr1 and the N-benzyl-Phe1 analogs were 8- to 24-fold more potent KOR antagonists than zyklophin

Alanine scan of the opioid peptide dynorphin B amide

To date structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies of the dynorphins (Dyn), endogenous peptides for kappa opioid receptors (KOR), have focused almost exclusively on Dyn A with minimal studies on Dyn B. While both Dyn A and Dyn B have identical N-terminal sequences, their C-terminal sequences differ which could result in differences in pharmacological activity. We performed an alanine scan of the non-glycine residues up through residue 11 of Dyn B amide to explore the role of these side chains in the activity of Dyn B. The analogs were synthesized by fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl (Fmoc)-based solid phase peptide synthesis and evaluated for their opioid receptor affinities and opioid potency and efficacy at KOR. Similar to Dyn A the N-terminal Tyr1 and Phe4 residues of Dyn B amide are critical for opioid receptor affinity and KOR agonist potency. The basic residues Arg6 and Arg7 contribute to the KOR affinity and agonist potency of Dyn B amide, while Lys10 contributes to the opioid receptor affinity, but not KOR agonist potency, of this peptide. Comparison to the Ala analogs of Dyn A(1-13) suggests that the basic residues in the C-terminus of both peptides contribute to KOR binding, but differences in their relative positions may contribute to the different pharmacological profiles of Dyn A and Dyn B. The other unique C-terminal residues in Dyn B amide also appear to influence the relative affinity of this peptide for KOR. This SAR information may be applied in the design of new Dyn B analogs that could be useful pharmacological tool

Discovery of Dermorphin-Based Affinity Labels with Subnanomolar Affinity for Mu Opioid Receptors+

A series of potent electrophilic affinity labels (IC50 = 0.1-5 nM) containing either a bromoacetamide or isothiocyanate based on the mu opioid receptor (MOR) selective peptide dermorphin were prepared. All four analogs exhibited wash resistant inhibition of [3H]DAMGO binding at subnanomolar to nanomolar concentrations, suggesting that these analogs bind covalently to MOR. To our knowledge these peptides are the highest affinity peptide-based affinity labels for MOR reported to date

Design, Synthesis, and Pharmacological Activities of Dynorphin A Analogs Cyclized by Ring-Closing Metathesis

Dynorphin A (Dyn A) is an endogenous ligand for kappa (κ) opioid receptors. To restrict the conformational mobility, we synthesized several cyclic Dyn A-(1-11)NH2 analogs on solid phase utilizing ring-closing metathesis (RCM) between the side chains of allylglycine (AllGly) residues incorporated in positions 2, 5 and/or 8. Cyclizations between the side chains of AllGly gave reasonable yields (56–74%) of all of the desired cyclic peptides. Both the cis and trans isomers were obtained for all of the cyclic peptides, with the ratio of cis to trans isomers depending on the position and stereochemistry of the AllGly. Most of the cyclic Dyn A-(1-11)NH2 analogs examined exhibit low nanomolar binding affinity for κ opioid receptors (Ki = 0.84–11 nM). In two of the three cases the configuration of the double bond has a significant influence on the opioid receptor affinity and agonist potency. All of the peptides inhibited adenylyl cyclase (AC) activity in a concentration-dependent manner with full or close to full agonist activity. These potent Dyn A analogs are the first ones cyclized by RCM

Involvement of dynorphin and kappa opioid receptor in yohimbine-induced reinstatement of heroin seeking in rats

This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Zhou, Y., Leri, F., Grella, S. L., Aldrich, J. V. and Kreek, M. J. (2013), Involvement of dynorphin and kappa opioid receptor in yohimbine-induced reinstatement of heroin seeking in rats. Synapse, 67: 358–361. doi:10.1002/syn.21638, which has been published in final form at http://doi.org/10.1002/syn.21638. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.Although kappa opioid receptor (KOP-r) antagonists are known to reduce reinstatement of cocaine, alcohol and nicotine seeking induced by a variety of stressors, the role of KOP-r in yohimbine-induced reinstatement of heroin seeking has not been investigated. Yohimbine, used as a stressor, increases the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) hormones, causes anxiety and induces heroin craving in humans. The present experiments were undertaken to assess the effects of yohimbine on reinstatement of heroin seeking and associated changes in preprodynorphin (ppDyn) expression and HPA hormonal levels; and to determine whether these effects could be reduced by pretreatment with the selective KOP-r antagonist nor-binaltorphimine (nor-BNI). After heroin self-administration for 12 days (3h/day, 0.05 mg/kg/infusion, i.v.) and extinction for 8 days, reinstatement included the first baseline test after vehicle injection, the second test of yohimbineinduced reinstatement (1.25 mg/kg, i.p.), pretreatment with vehicle or nor-BNI (20 mg/kg, i.p.), the third baseline test after vehicle injection, and the final test of yohimbine-induced reinstatement. Immediately after the last test, several mesolimbic regions and plasma were collected for analyses of ppDyn and KOP-r mRNA levels and HPA hormones. Yohimbineinduced reinstatement was fully blocked by nor-BNI pretreatment. Furthermore, yohimbine elevated plasma HPA hormones, and this increase was blunted by nor-BNI. Finally, rats pretreated with yohimbine displayed increased ppDyn mRNA levels in the nucleus accumbens shell and central nucleus of the amygdala. These data suggest that the stress responsive ppDyn/KOP-r system is a critical component of the neural circuitry underlying the effect of yohimbine stress on heroin seeking behavior and HPA activity

Synthesis of CJ-15,208, a novel κ-opioid receptor antagonist

The tryptophan isomers of the cyclic tetrapeptide CJ-15,208, reported to be a kappa opioid receptor (KOR) antagonist [Saito, T.; Hirai, H.; Kim, Y. J.; Kojima, Y.; Matsunaga, Y.; Nishida, H.; Sakakibara, T.; Suga, O.; Sujaku, T.; Kojima, N. J. Antibiot. (Tokyo) 2002, 55, 847–854.], were synthesized to determine the tryptophan stereochemistry in the natural product. A strategy was developed to select linear precursor peptides that favor cyclization using molecular modeling, and optimized cyclization conditions are reported. The optical rotation of the l-Trp isomer is consistent with that of the natural product. Unexpectedly both isomers exhibit similar nanomolar affinity for KOR

The permeation of dynorphin A 1–6 across the blood brain barrier and its effect on bovine brain microvessel endothelial cell monolayer permeability

Dynorphin A 1–17 (Dyn A 1–17) is an endogenous neuropeptide known to act at the kappa opioid receptor; it has been implicated in a number of neurological disorders, including neuropathic pain, stress, depression, and Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. The investigation of Dyn A 1–17 metabolism at the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is important since the metabolites exhibit unique biological functions compared to the parent compound. In this work, Dyn A 1–6 is identified as a metabolite of Dyn A 1–17 in the presence of bovine brain microvessel endhothelial cells (BBMECs), using LC-MS/MS. The transport of Dyn A 1–6 at the BBB was examined using this in vitro cell culture model of the BBB. Furthermore, the permeation of the BBB by the low molecular weight, permeability marker fluorescein was characterized in the presence and absences of Dyn A 1–6

Zyklophin, a short-acting kappa opioid antagonist, induces scratching in mice

It has been shown previously that norbinaltorphimine (norBNI) and 5΄-guanidinonaltrindole (5΄-GNTI), long-acting kappa opioid receptor (KOPR) antagonists, cause frenzied scratching in mice [1;2]. In the current study, we examined if zyklophin, a short-acting cyclic peptide KOPR antagonist, also elicited scratching behavior. When injected s.c. in the nape of the neck of male Swiss-Webster mice, zyklophin at doses of 0.1, 0.3 and 1 mg/kg induced dose-related hindleg scratching of the neck between 3 and 15 min after injection. Pretreating mice with norBNI (20 mg/kg, i.p.) at 18–20 hr before challenge with zyklophin (0.3 mg/kg) did not markedly affect scratching. Additionally, KOPR −/− mice given 0.3 mg/kg of zyklophin displayed similar levels of scratching as wild-type animals. The absence of KOPR in KOPR −/− mice was confirmed with ex vivo radioligand binding using [3H]U69,593. Taken together, our data suggest that the presence of kappa receptors is not required for the excessive scratching caused by zyklophin. Thus, zyklophin, similar to the structurally different KOPR antagonist 5΄-GNTI, appears to act at other targets to elicit scratching and potentially the sensation of itch