Synthesis and biological activities of some pseudo-peptide analogs of tetragastrin: the importance of the peptide backbone
摘要:
Pseudo-peptide analogues of the C-terminal tetrapeptide of gastrin, in which a peptide bond has been replaced by a CH2-NH bond, i.e. (tert-butyloxycarbonyl)-L-tryptophyl-psi (CH2-NH)-L-leucyl-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine amide (8), (tert-butyloxycarbonyl)-L-tryptophyl-L-leucyl-psi (CH2-NH)-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine amide (13), (tert-butyloxycarbonyl)-L-tryptophyl-L-leucyl-L-aspartyl-psi (CH2NH)-L-phenylalanine amide (20), were synthesized. The pseudo-peptides 8 and 13 were shown to have the same affinity as (tert-butyloxycarbonyl)-L-tryptophyl-L-leucyl-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine amide (21) for the gastrin receptor on isolated mucosal cells. The pseudo-peptide 20 exhibited lower affinity (IC50 congruent to 10(-5) M). The biological activity of these pseudo-peptides was studied on acid secretion in the anesthetized rat. Compound 8 stimulated acid secretion, identically with that of 21. Compound 13 did not exhibit any agonist activity but was able to antagonize the action of gastrin (ED50 = 0.3 mg/kg). Compound 20 did not show any agonist activity but was able to inhibit gastrin-induced acid secretion, with lower potency (ED50 = 15 mg/kg). The importance of the peptide bonds in the mode of action of gastrin is discussed, and a hypothetical approach of the mechanism of action is presented.
The proteasome is a multicatalytic protease that plays a critical role in the cell. The control of proteasomes could, thus, provide a weapon for the treatment of cancer. Therefore, we have synthesized six new peptide aldehyde inhibitors of the proteasome linked to the N-(2-diethylaminoethyl)benzamide (BZA-CO) structure, in order to target the cytotoxic activity to malignant melanoma cells. Biological studies demonstrated the influence of length and composition of the amino acid chain on the cytotoxicity of our compounds. Among them, compound 19 presents the highest cytotoxicity (IC50 = 0.64 +/- 0.07 mu mol): this cytotoxicity was maintained in the presence of BZA-CO but decreased 8-fold compared to the control MG132. Fluorescence activated cell sorter (FACS) and cytotoxic activity analysis demonstrated the selectivity of compound 19 for melanoma cells. Finally, western blottings of ubiquitinated proteins in IPC227F cells as well as proteasome assays confirmed that the cytotoxicity was linked to an inhibition of the proteasome activity.