摘要:
The octadecaneuropeptide ODN (QATVGDVNTDRPGLLDLK)I originally characterized as an endogenous ligand for central-type benzodiazepine receptors, increases intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+](i)) in rat astroglial cells. A series of ODN analogues was synthesized, and each compound was studied for its ability to induce Ca2+ mobilization in cultured rat astrocytes. Replacement of each amino acid by an L-alanine residue (AlaScan) showed that the N-terminal region of the molecule was relatively tolerant to alanine substitution (2-8, 10), except for the Ala(9)-substituted analogue (9) which was totally devoid of activity. Pyroglutamization (21) and acetylation (22) of the GLn(1) residue reduced the Ca2+ response suggesting that a free N-terminal amine function is required for full activity of ODN. Alanine substitution of the residues in the C-terminal region of the molecule (11-14, 16-18) significantly reduced the biological activity of ODN. In particular, modifications of the Leu(15) residue (15, 20) abolished the Ca2+-mobilizing activity. The analogues [Ala(9)]ODN (9), [Ala(15)]ODN(15), [D-Thr(9)]ODN (19), and [D-Leu(15)]ODN (20) partially antagonized the Ca2+ response evoked by ODN. Most importantly, the octapeptide ODN11-18 (OP, 24) produced a dose-response curve that was superimposable to that obtained with ODN, indicating that the C-terminal region of the molecule possesses full biological activity. Finally, the AlaScan of OP revealed that replacement of the Leu(5) residue by Ala (29) or D-Leu (33) totally suppressed the calcium response, confirming the crucial contribution of the Leu(15) residue of ODN to the biological activity of the neuropeptide.