名称:
Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of non-peptidic ligands at the Xenopus laevis skin-melanocortin receptor
摘要:
Taking the tripeptide D-Trp-Arg-Leu-NH2 as a lead for a Xenopus laevis skin-melanocortin (MC) receptor antagonist, thirteen non-peptidic compounds were synthesized and biologically evaluated at Xenopus laevis melanophores. Six competitive antagonists (shown by Schild analysis) and one partial agonist were identified with moderate activity (IC50: 5-10 muM). Tryptophanamides with aliphatic side chains were inactive whereas basic residues restored activity. Introducing an imidazole residue yielded partial agonist activity (EC50: 32 muM). Interestingly, constraining the inactive S-tryptophan-isoamylamide to a beta-carboline ring yielded an MC receptor antagonist (42). The specificity for MC receptors was tested at various G-protein coupled receptors. In conclusion, the synthesis of non-peptidic MC receptor antagonists is described which may serve as lead compounds for further studies. (C) 2003 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.