Minor structural differences in Boc-CCK-4 derivatives dictate affinity and selectivity for CCK-A and CCK-B receptors

We previously reported novel Boc-CCK-4 (Boc-Trp-Met-Asp-Phe-NH2) derivatives possessing the general structure Boc-Trp-Lys[N epsilon-CO-NH-(R-Ph)]-Asp-Phe-NH2 (Shiosaki et al. J. Med. Chem. 1991, 34, 2837-2842). In contrast to Boc-CCK-4, which is 70-fold selective for the CCK-B receptor, the modified lysine-bearing tetrapeptides were highly potent and selective full agonists at the CCK-A receptor. Further investigation of the structure-activity profile following modification of the substituted phenylurea moiety appended off the lysine revealed that moving certain substituents, e.g. nitro or acetyl, from the 2- or 3-position on the phenyl ring to the 4-position, a relatively minor and subtle structural modification within the tetrapeptide, resulted in loss of CCK-A receptor selectivity and development of a trend toward CCK-B selectivity. These tetrapeptides, e.g. Boc-Trp-Lys[N epsilon-CO-NH-(4-NO2-Ph)]-Asp-Phe-NH2 and Boc-Trp-Lys[N epsilon-CO-NH-(4-Ac-Ph)]-Asp-Phe-NH2, were full agonists relative to CCK-8 in stimulating intracellular calcium mobilization in a cell line that expresses the CCK-B receptor.