Synergistic Multiresidue Substitutions of a Macrocyclic c[Pro-Arg-Phe-Phe-Asn-Ala-Phe-dPro] Agouti-Related Protein (AGRP) Scaffold Yield Potent and >600-Fold MC4R versus MC3R Selective Melanocortin Receptor Antagonists

J Med Chem. 2018 Sep 13;61(17):7729-7740. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b00684. Epub 2018 Aug 16.

Abstract

Antagonist ligands of the melanocortin-3 and -4 receptors (MC3R, MC4R), including agouti-related protein (AGRP), are postulated to be targets for the treatment of diseases of negative energy balance. Previous studies reported the macrocyclic MC3R/MC4R antagonist c[Pro1-Arg2-Phe3-Phe4-Asn5-Ala6-Phe7-dPro8], which is 250-fold less potent at the mouse (m) mMC3R and 3-fold less potent at the mMC4R than AGRP. Previous studies explored the structure-activity relationships around individual positions in this template. Herein, a multiresidue substitution strategy is utilized, combining the lead sequence with hPhe4, Dap5, Arg5, Ser6, and Nle7 substitutions previously reported. Two compounds from this study (16, 20) contain an hPhe4/Ser6/Nle7 substitution pattern, are 3-6-fold more potent than AGRP at the mMC4R and are 600-800-fold selective for the mMC4R over the mMC3R. Another lead compound (21), possessing the hPhe4/Arg5 substitutions, is only 5-fold less potent than AGRP at the mMC3R and is equipotent to AGRP at the mMC4R.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Agouti-Related Protein / metabolism*
  • Amino Acid Substitution
  • Animals
  • Drug Synergism*
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Ligands
  • Mice
  • Models, Molecular
  • Peptide Fragments / chemistry*
  • Peptide Fragments / pharmacology*
  • Peptide Library
  • Protein Conformation
  • Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 3 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 3 / metabolism
  • Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 4 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 4 / metabolism
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Agouti-Related Protein
  • Agrp protein, mouse
  • Ligands
  • MC4R protein, mouse
  • Mc3r protein, mouse
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Peptide Library
  • Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 3
  • Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 4