End-capping of the modified melanocortin tetrapeptide (p-Cl)Phe-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-NH2 as a route to hMC4R agonists

Of the 42 R'-X-(p-Cl)Phe-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-NH(2) (X=CO, SO(2), PO, PS) tested at the human (h)MC1, hMC3, and hMC4 receptors (R), the most potent MC4R agonists (EC(50) of 8-20 nM) were obtained by end-capping with R'=CH(2)CHCH(2) (9), NCCH(2) (16), NH(2)COCH(2) (17), HCONHCH(2) (18), CH(3)NH (19), CH(2)CHCH(2)NH (21), 2-Th (23), PhCH(2) (30) and X=CO. These compounds possess 35-60-fold hMC4 versus hMC1Rs selectivity with urea LK-71 (19) being the most potent at hMC4R and MC4/1R selective (EC(50)=8.5 nM, MC4/1R=100). LK-75 (16) combines high potency at hMC4R and MC4/3R selectivity (EC(50)=10.5 nM, MC4/3R=290). SAR is discussed.