The novel nonapeptide acein targets angiotensin converting enzyme in the brain and induces dopamine release.

Background And Purpose: Using an in-house bioinformatics programme, we identified and synthesized a novel nonapeptide, H-Pro-Pro-Thr-Thr-Thr-Lys-Phe-Ala-Ala-OH. Here, we have studied its biological activity, in vitro and in vivo, and have identified its target in the brain.

Experimental Approach: The affinity of the peptide was characterized using purified whole brain and striatal membranes from guinea pigs and rats .

Homogeneous time-resolved fluorescence-based assay to screen for ligands targeting the growth hormone secretagogue receptor type 1a.

The growth hormone secretagogue receptor type 1a (GHS-R1a) belongs to class A G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCR). This receptor mediates pleiotropic effects of ghrelin and represents a promising target for dysfunctions of growth hormone secretion and energy homeostasis including obesity. Identification of new compounds which bind GHS-R1a is traditionally achieved using radioactive binding assays.

Involvement of tryptophan W276 and of two surrounding amino acid residues in the high constitutive activity of the ghrelin receptor GHS-R1a.

The human ghrelin receptor (GHS-R1a) is known to display a high level of signaling in the absence of ligand. The Trp276, located in the fully conserved CWXP motif of G protein-coupled receptors, is believed to function as a rotameric switch in these receptors. A comparative modelling of GHS-R1a with the motilin receptor, the most related G protein-coupled receptor to GHS-R1a known to date, but characterized by a very low ligand-independent signaling level, revealed that only two surrounding residues of Trp276, that are Val131 and Ile134, were different from these receptors.

Study of a lipophilic captopril analogue binding to angiotensin I converting enzyme.

Human ACE is a central component of the renin-angiotensin system and a major therapeutic target for cardiovascular diseases. The somatic form of the enzyme (sACE) comprises two homologous metallopeptidase domains (N and C), each bearing a zinc active site with similar but distinct substrate and inhibitor specificities. In this study, we present the biological activity of silacaptopril, a silylated analogue of captopril, and its binding affinity towards ACE.

Activation of the ghrelin receptor is described by a privileged collective motion: a model for constitutive and agonist-induced activation of a sub-class A G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR).

Three homology models of the human ghrelin receptor (GHS-R1a) have been generated from the available X-ray structures of rhodopsin (RHO model), opsin (OPS model) and beta-2 adrenergic receptor (B2 model). The latter was used as a starting point for combined molecular dynamics simulation (MDS) and full atom normal modes analysis (NMA). A low-frequency normal mode (mode 16) perfectly reproduced the intracellular motions observed between B2 and RHO models; in the opposite direction along the same mode, the generated structures are closer to the OPS model, suggesting a direct link with GHS-R1a activation.

New trisubstituted 1,2,4-triazole derivatives as potent ghrelin receptor antagonists. 3. Synthesis and pharmacological in vitro and in vivo evaluations.

Ghrelin receptor ligands based on trisubstituted 1,2,4-triazole structure were synthesized and evaluated for their in vitro binding and biological activity. In this study, we explored the replacement of the alpha-aminoisobutyryl moiety by aromatic or heteroaromatic groups. Compounds 5 and 34 acted as potent in vivo antagonists of hexarelin-stimulated food intake.

Trisubstituted 1,2,4-triazoles as ligands for the ghrelin receptor: on the significance of the orientation and substitution at position 3.

The synthesis and structure-activity relationships concerning 3,4,5-trisubstituted 1,2,4-triazoles as ghrelin receptor ligands are described. The importance of the starting aminoacid material as well as its configuration was explored and the (D) Trp residue was found to lead to the best agonist or antagonist compounds.

Toward potent ghrelin receptor ligands based on trisubstituted 1,2,4-triazole structure. 2. Synthesis and pharmacological in vitro and in vivo evaluations.

A series of ghrelin receptor ligands based on the trisubstituted 1,2,4-triazole structure were synthesized and evaluated for their in vitro binding and biological activity. In this study, we explored the significance of the aminoisobutyryl (Aib) moiety, a common feature in numerous growth hormone secretagogues described in the literature. Potent agonist and antagonist ligands of the growth hormone secretagogue receptor type 1a (GHS-R1a) were obtained, i.

Effect of dronedarone on renal function in healthy subjects.

Aims: To assess the effects of dronedarone on renal function and tubular cation handling.

Methods: Twelve healthy males were enrolled in a randomized, cross-over, placebo-controlled, double-blind study. They received 400 mg dronedarone or placebo twice daily for 7 days.

Synthesis and pharmacological in vitro and in vivo evaluations of novel triazole derivatives as ligands of the ghrelin receptor. 1.

A new series of growth hormone secretagogue (GHS) analogues based on the 1,2,4-triazole structure were synthesized and evaluated for their in vitro binding and their ability to stimulate intracellular calcium release to the cloned hGHS-1a ghrelin receptor expressed in LLC PK-1 cells. We have synthesized potent ligands of this receptor, some of them behaving as agonists, partial agonists, or antagonists. Some compounds among the most potent, i.

Regulation of ERK1/2 activity by ghrelin-activated growth hormone secretagogue receptor 1A involves a PLC/PKCvarepsilon pathway.

1. The growth hormone secretagogue receptor 1a (GHSR-1a) is a G-protein coupled receptor, involved in the biological actions of ghrelin by triggering inositol phosphates and calcium intracellular second messengers. It has also been reported that ghrelin could activate the 44- and 42-kDa extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases (ERK1/2) in different cell lines, but it is not clear whether this regulation is GHSR-1a dependent or not.

Cholecystokinin 1 receptor modulates the MEKK1-induced c-Jun trans-activation: structural requirements of the receptor.

In cells overexpressing active MEKK1 to enhance c-Jun trans-activation, expression of rat cholecystokinin 1 receptor increased the activity of c-Jun while in the same experimental conditions overexpression of mouse cholecystokinin 1 receptor repressed it. This differential trans-activation is specific, since it was not observed for either the other overexpressed kinases (MEK, PKA) or for other transcription factors (ATF2, ELK-1, CREB). This differential behaviour was also detected in a human colon adenocarcinoma cell-line naturally producing high levels of endogenous MEKK1.

Cross-interactions of two p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase inhibitors and two cholecystokinin (CCK) receptor antagonists with the CCK1 receptor and p38 MAP kinase.

Although SB202190 and SB203580 are described as specific p38 MAP kinase inhibitors, several reports have indicated that other enzymes are also sensitive to SB203580. Using a pharmacological approach, we report for the first time that compounds SB202190 and SB203580 were able to directly and selectively interact with a G-protein-coupled receptor, namely the cholecystokinin receptor subtype CCK1, but not with the CCK2 receptor. We demonstrated that these compounds were non-competitive antagonists of the CCK1 receptor at concentrations typically used to inhibit protein kinases.

New active series of growth hormone secretagogues.

New growth hormone secretagogue (GHS) analogues were synthesized and evaluated for growth hormone releasing activity. This series derived from EP-51389 is based on a gem-diamino structure. Compounds that exhibited higher in vivo GH-releasing potency than hexarelin in rat (subcutaneous administration) were then tested per os in beagle dogs and for their binding affinity to human pituitary GHS receptors and to hGHS-R 1a.

C-terminal heptapeptide of gastrin inhibits astrocytomas motility by interacting with a new gastrin binding site.

It is well known that the amidated C-terminal part of gastrin is crucial for its interaction with the classical seven transmembrane domain receptors CCK-1 or CCK-2. Nevertheless, over the past 10 years, several groups have characterized new binding sites using peptides related to gastrin (particularly glycine-extended forms of gastrin) on various tumoral and nontumoral cell lines. In the present study, we focused on the human astrocytic tumoral cell line U373.

The third intracellular loop of the rat and mouse cholecystokinin-A receptors is responsible for different patterns of gene activation.

It has previously been reported that the cholecystokinin analog JMV-180 behaves differently on the rat and the mouse cholecystokinin-A receptor (CCK-AR). In mice this analog acts as an agonist on low- and high-affinity sites of the CCK-AR, whereas in rats this compound acts as an agonist on high-affinity sites and as an antagonist on low-affinity sites. In an attempt to understand why the same compound behaves differently on these two CCK-A receptors, we cloned the cDNA encoding the mouse CCK-AR.

A synthetic glycine-extended bombesin analogue interacts with the GRP/bombesin receptor.

alpha-amidation of a peptide (which takes place from a glycine-extended precursor) is required to produce biologically active amidated hormones, such as gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP)/Pyr-Gln-Arg-Leu-Gly-Asn-Gln-Trp-Ala-Val-Gly-His-Leu-Met-NH(2) (bombesin). It was shown that glycine-extended gastrin mediates mitogenic effects on various cell lines by interacting with a specific receptor, different from the classical CCK(1) or CCK(2) receptors. On the basis of this observation, we have extended the concept of obtaining active glycine-extended forms of others amidated peptides to produce new active analogues.

L-365,260 inhibits in vitro acid secretion by interacting with a PKA pathway.

The aim of this study was to analyse the antisecretory mechanism of L-365,260 in vitro in isolated rabbit gastric glands. We showed that compound L-365,260, described as a non-peptide specific competitive CCK-B receptor antagonist, was able to dose-dependently inhibit [14C]-aminopyrine accumulation induced by histamine (10(-4) M), carbachol (5x10(-5) M), 3-isobutyl-1-methyl-xanthine (IBMX) (5x10(-6) M) and forskolin (5x10(-7) M) with similar IC50 values respectively of 1.1+/-0.

CholecystokininB receptor from human Jurkat lymphoblastic T cells is involved in activator protein-1-responsive gene activation.

The aim of this study was to analyze the role of cholecystokinin (CCK(B)) receptor in human lymphoblastic Jurkat T cells. We investigated the trophic effect resulting from activation of such a receptor by using the reporter gene strategy. For this purpose, we transiently transfected Jurkat T cells with the reporter plasmid p[(TRE)3-tk-Luc] and found that CCK-8 was able to dose-dependently induce luciferase expression related to activator protein-1 (AP-1) activation with a maximal response identical to that obtained with compounds known to activate AP-1 complex (quantitatively, the same level of induction was obtained with 1 nM 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, 100 microM diacylglycerol, or 4 nM epidermal growth factor).

Synthesis and biological activities of some human gastrin analogs.

The synthesis of analogs of the C-terminal tridecapeptide of gastrin is described. These pseudopeptide analogs were obtained either by replacing the C-terminal phenylalanine amide with 2-phenylethylalcohol or with 2-phenylethylamine, or by replacing the peptide bond between Trp and Leu, or between Leu and Asp with an aminomethylene (CH2NH). The ability of these compounds to stimulate gastric acid secretion in anesthetized rats and to inhibit binding of labeled CCK-8 to isolated cells from rabbit fundic mucosa was tested.

The influence of gastrin and/or cholecystokinin antagonists on the proliferation of three human astrocytic tumor cell lines.

We have investigated the potential role of gastrin in the regulation of cell growth in human astrocytic tumors. To this end we have used synthetic analogs of gastrin and cholecystokinin (CCK) which behave as gastrin and/or CCK antagonists, e.g.

Are C-terminal octapeptide of cholecystokinin and [Leu11]gastrin-(5-17) different in stimulating acid secretion in isolated rabbit gastric glands?

In the present study we compared various CCK(B) receptor antagonists and tried to detect a difference in biological activity between the C-terminal octapeptides of cholecystokinin (CCK-8) and [Leu11]gastrin-(5-17) in isolated rabbit gastric glands. Binding experiments showed that different CCK(B)/gastrin receptor agonists bound with high affinity and that antagonists inhibited this binding in accordance with a CCK(B)/gastrin pharmacological profile. [Leu11]gastrin-(5-17), CCK-8 and cionin were found to induce [14C]aminopyrine accumulation to 25% above the basal level.

Cholecystokinin and gastrin are not equally sensitive to GTP gamma S at CCKB receptors: importance of the sulphated tyrosine.

We have shown that gastrin and cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8) are differently coupled to G protein (GTP-binding protein) through type B cholecystokinin receptors in guinea-pig brain membranes and Jurkat cells. Indeed, the gastrin-13 binding affinity is strongly reduced by stable guanyl nucleotides, whereas CCK-8 binding is only slightly affected. In order to determine the structural requirements regulating such coupling, we have synthesized several gastrin and cholecystokinin fragments (sulphated or unsulphated) elongated at the N-terminus of the common C-terminal tetrapeptide.

Synthesis and characterization of a new labeled gastrin ligand, 125-I-BH-[Leu15]-gastrin-(5-17), on binding to canine fundic mucosal cells and Jurkat cells.

In the course of our study concerning gastrin and cholecystokinin (CCK) receptors, we have synthesized and characterized a new labeled gastrin ligand, 125I-BH-[Leu15]-gastrin-(5-17) [(3-[125I]iodo-4-hydroxyphenyl)-propionyl-[Leu15]-gastrin-(5-17)]. Binding of 125I-BH-[Leu15]-gastrin-(5-17) to isolated canine fundic mucosal cells was specific, saturable and of high affinity. 125I-BH-[Leu15]-gastrin- (5-17) and 125I-BH-CCK-8[(3-[125I]iodo-4-hydroxyphenyl)-propionyl-CCK-8] interact with isolated canine fundic mucosal cells with small differences in maximal binding capacities and affinities, 3800 +/- 900 binding sites/cell (Kd = 0.

Gastrin13 and the C-terminal octapeptide of cholecystokinin are differently coupled to G-proteins in guinea-pig brain membranes.

In the course of our study concerning gastrin and cholecystokinin (CCK) receptors, we synthesized and characterized a labelled gastrin ligand, [125I]BH[Leu15]gastrin-(5-17) (3-(3-[125I]iodo-4-hydroxyphenyl)propionyl[Leu15]gastrin-(5-17)). On isolated canine fundic mucosal cells and human Jurkat lymphoblastic cell line, known to express CCKB/gastrin receptors, the binding experiments performed indicate that [125I]BH[Leu15]gastrin-(5-17) provides a convenient biologically active ligand for cholecystokinin/gastrin receptor studies. We showed in this study that, on guinea-pig brain membranes known to possess CCKB and CCKA receptors, [125I]BH[Leu15]gastrin-(5-17) binds to a single class of high-affinity binding sites in a saturable and specific manner.