Design of opioid peptides for a potential delta-receptor affinity label function: comparison with the mu-specific...

To find a delta-opioid receptor preferring peptide structure containing an Asp residue in a potentially interacting position, Tyr-Pro-Phe-Asp, Tyr-D-Ala-Phe-Asp, Tyr-D-Ala-Gly-Phe-Asp, Tyr-D-Ala-Gly-Phe-Asp alpha- and beta-methyl ester and Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Asp peptides were synthesized and their biological activities were analyzed in vitro in mouse vas deferens and longitudinal muscle strip of guinea pig ileum. Changing the beta-methyl ester for an alkylating chloromethyl ketone moiety in the delta-receptor-selective agonist Tyr-D-Ala-Gly-Phe-Asp-beta-methyl ester enhanced further the delta-receptor preference. The delta-receptor selective chloromethyl ketone but not the beta-methyl ester gave a very slow washout after prolonged incubation in the mouse vas deferens bioassay; however, it was still readily displaceable by naloxone. The washout pattern of mu-specific Tyr-D-Ala-Gly-(Me)Phe chloromethyl ketone did not differ in the bioassays from that of the corresponding Gly5-ol derivative. Both chloromethyl ketones gave irreversible characteristics in the receptor binding assay.