Phe-Phe-OH

The discovery of the prototype delta opioid antagonists TIPP (H-Tyr-Tic-Phe-Phe-OH) and TIP (H-Tyr-Tic-Phe-OH) in 1992 was followed by extensive structure-activity relationship studies, leading to the development of analogues that are of interest as pharmacological tools or as potential therapeutic agents. Stable TIPP-derived delta opioid antagonists with subnanomolar delta receptor binding affinity and extraordinary delta receptor selectivity include TIPP[Psi] (H-Tyr-TicPsi[CH(2)NH]Phe-Phe-OH] and TICP[Psi] (H-Tyr-TicPsi[CH(2)NH]Cha-Phe-OH); Cha: cyclohexylalanine), which are widely used in opioid research. Theoretical conformational analyses in conjunction with the pharmacological characterization of conformationally constrained TIPP analogues led to a definitive model of the receptor-bound conformation of H-Tyr-Tic-(Phe-Phe)-OH-related delta opioid antagonists, which is characterized by all-trans peptide bonds. Further structure-activity studies revealed that the delta antagonist vs delta agonist behavior of TIP(P)-derived compounds depended on very subtle structural differences in diverse locations of the molecule and suggested a delta receptor model involving a number of different inactive receptor conformations. A further outcome of these studies was the identification of a new class of potent and very selective dipeptide delta agonists of the general formula H-Tyr-Tic-NH-X (X = arylalkyl), which are of interest for drug development because of their low molecular weight and lipophilic character. Most interestingly, TIPP analogues containing a C-terminal carboxamide group displayed a mixed mu agonist/delta antagonist profile, and thus were expected to be analgesics with a low propensity to produce tolerance and physical dependence. This turned out to be the case with the TIPP-derived mu agonist/delta antagonist DIPP-NH(2)[Psi] (H-Dmt-TicPsi[CH(2)NH]Phe-Phe-NH(2)); Dmt: 2',6'- dimethyltyrosine).

A molecular mechanics study (grid search and energy minimization) was performed with six delta opioid peptide antagonists containing a tetrahydroisoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid (Tic) residue in the 2-position of the peptide sequence. Compounds examined were the highly potent and selective TIP(P) peptides H-Tyr-Tic-Phe-OH (TIP), H-Tyr-Tic psi[CH2-NH]Phe-OH (TIP[psi]), H-Tyr-Tic-Phe-Phe-OH (TIPP), and H-Tyr-Tic psi[CH2-NH]Phe-Phe-OH (TIPP[psi]), and the weakly active analogues H-Tyr-Tic-NH2 and H-Tyr-Tic-Ala-OH. Low energy conformers of the peptides were examined for their compatibility with three proposed models of the delta receptor-bound conformation. Model 1, based on spatial overlap of the Tyr1 and Phe3 aromatic rings and N-terminal amino group of the peptides with the corresponding aromatic rings and nitrogen atom of the nonpeptide delta-antagonist naltrindole, was ruled out because of the demonstrated importance of the Tic2 aromatic ring for delta antagonism and because of the somewhat elevated energies of the conformers consistent with this model. Models of the receptor-bound conformation based on superimposition of the Tyr1 and Tic2 aromatic rings and N-terminal amino group of the peptides with the corresponding moieties in naltrindole included an all-trans peptide bond conformer [model 2, proposed by B.C. Wilkes and P.W. Schiller (1994) Biopolymers, Vol. 34, pp. 1213-1219] and a conformer with a cis peptide bond between the Tyr1 and Tic2 residues (model 3, originally proposed by P.A. Temussi et al. [(1994) Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, Vol. 198, pp. 933-939]. For all six peptides low energy conformers consistent with both model 2 and model 3 were identified; however, peptide conformers corresponding to model 2 showed better coplanarity of the Tyr1 aromatic ring and the phenol ring in naltrindole than peptide conformers corresponding to model 3. Both models remain plausible candidate structures for the receptor-bound conformation of delta antagonists of the TIP(P) class. TIP(P) analogues containing additional conformational constraints need to be developed in order to arrive at a unique model.

Derivatives of peptides of the TIPP (Tyr-Tic-Phe-Phe; Tic=1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid) family containing a guanidino (Guan) function in place of the N-terminal amino group were synthesized in an effort to improve their blood-brain barrier permeability. Unexpectedly, N-terminal amidination significantly altered the in vitro opioid activity profiles. Guan-analogues of TIPP-related δ opioid antagonists showed δ partial agonist or mixed δ partial agonist/μ partial agonist activity. Guanidinylation of the mixed μ agonist/δ antagonists H-Dmt-Tic-Phe-Phe-NH2 (DIPP-NH2) and H-Dmt-TicΨ[CH2NH]Phe-Phe-NH2 (DIPP-NH2[Ψ]) converted them to mixed μ agonist/δ agonists. A docking study revealed distinct positioning of DIPP-NH2 and Guan-DIPP-NH2 in the δ receptor binding site. Lys(3)-analogues of DIPP-NH2 and DIPP-NH2[Ψ] (guanidinylated or non-guanidinylated) turned out to be mixed μ/κ agonists with δ antagonist-, δ partial agonist- or δ full agonist activity. Compounds with some of the observed mixed opioid activity profiles have therapeutic potential as analgesics with reduced side effects or for treatment of cocaine addiction.