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Published on: April 28, 2016
Ghrelin receptor: high constitutive activity and methods for developing inverse agonists.
Sylvia Els1, Annette G Beck-Sickinger, Constance Chollet
1Institute of Biochemistry, Leipzig University, Brüderstrasse, Leipzig, Germany.
Researchers developed short peptides as inverse agonists to reduce the constitutive activity of the ghrelin receptor, a target for anti-obesity drug development. These peptides show high potency, offering a new strategy for appetite regulation and energy homeostasis.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Endocrinology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- The ghrelin receptor, a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), is crucial for regulating appetite and energy homeostasis.
- It exhibits significant constitutive activity, making it a viable target for therapeutic intervention.
- Ghrelin is the sole known orexigenic peptide hormone from the gastrointestinal tract.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop novel anti-obesity agents by targeting the ghrelin receptor.
- To synthesize and evaluate short peptides as inverse agonists with high potency.
- To investigate methods for peptide synthesis and biological activity assessment.
Main Methods:
- Solid-phase peptide synthesis utilizing a Fmoc/tBu-strategy.
- Evaluation of peptide inverse agonist potency using a signal transduction assay.
- Adaptation of the inositol trisphosphate turnover assay for constitutively active receptors.
Main Results:
- Successfully synthesized short peptides demonstrating high inverse agonist potency against the ghrelin receptor.
- Established effective methods for peptide synthesis and biological evaluation.
- Validated the inositol trisphosphate turnover assay for measuring inverse agonism in constitutively active GPCRs.
Conclusions:
- Short peptides acting as inverse agonists are effective in reducing ghrelin receptor constitutive activity.
- This approach offers a promising strategy for the development of new anti-obesity drugs.
- The synthesized peptides represent potential therapeutic candidates for managing appetite and energy balance.
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