Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) is an attractive target for the diagnosis of cancer and atherosclerosis in nuclear imaging. A cyclic decapeptide, cCTTHWGFTLC (cCTT), has been used as the mother compound for the development of MMP-2-imaging agents with high potency and selectivity. Most of radiolabeled derivatives of cCTT currently developed for in vivo studies of MMP-2, however, suffer from low accumulation in the target tissues, such as tumors. For enhanced in vivo stability and tissue penetration, we designed a linear β-tetrapeptide analog, H-β3-Phe-β-Ala-β3-Trp-β3-His-OH (1), to mimic cCTT. The component β-amino acids were prepared by reduction of N-protected α-amino acid methyl esters to the alcohols, followed by conversion into the cyanides, and subsequent hydrolysis. Compound 1 was obtained from these β-amino acids by the conventional solution method. In MMP-2 inhibition assay, compound 1 displayed desirably significant inhibition, which was comparable to cCTT. These findings suggest that compound 1 may serve as a mother compound in the design and development of in vivo MMP-2-imaging agents.
基质
金属
蛋白酶-2(
MMP-2)是核成像中诊断癌症和动脉粥样硬化的理想靶点。环状十肽cC
TTHWGFTLC(cC
TT)已被用作开发高效能和选择性的
MMP-2成像剂的母体化合物。然而,目前开发的大多数cC
TT放射性标记衍
生物在体内研究
MMP-2时,在目标组织如肿瘤中的积累较低。为了提高体内稳定性和组织穿透性,我们设计了一种线性β-四肽类似物H-β3-Phe-β-Ala-β3-Trp-β3-His-OH(1),以模拟cC
TT。这些β-
氨基酸成分是通过将N-保护的
α-氨基酸甲
酯还原为醇,然后转化为
氰化物,最后进行
水解得到的。化合物1是通过传统的溶液方法从这些β-
氨基酸制备的。在
MMP-2抑制测定中,化合物1显示出显著的抑制效果,与cC
TT相当。这些发现表明,化合物1可能在设计和发展体内
MMP-2成像剂中作为母体化合物。