[Synthesis and analysis of des-Met5-[D-Ala2]enkephalinamide analogs]

The effects of N- and C-terminal oligoalanine insertions into des-Met5-[D-Ala2]enkephalin amide (I) on the biological activity and spatial structure were examined. The corresponding analogues were obtained by solid-phase synthesis using Sephadex LH-20 ac a polymeric support. Biological activity was assayed via changes in the pain threshold in the rat, body temperature, and also as affinity for opiate receptors. Active analogues were obtained upon modifying the carboxylic group in the tetrapeptide I with di- and tri-D-alanyls. The CD spectra of the C-derivatized analogyes were similar to those of the starting tetrapeptide I and [Met5]enkephalin, whereas the N-derivatized analogues showed essentially different CD spectra.