Analgesic, receptor binding, and peripheral opioid activities of synthetic dermorphin‐dynorphin hybrid peptides

CHEWN‐LANG ‐L HO, JANE‐LING ‐L KO, LING‐LING ‐L HWANG, KUNG‐TSUNG ‐T WANG

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The effects of substituting the enkephalin moiety of dynorphin with the dermorphin sequence were studied on the receptor preference, analgesic, and peripheral opioid potencies by using synthetic dermorphin‐dynorphin hybrid peptides as the probe. Replacement of the enkephalin moiety of dynorphin with the dermorphin or dermorphin1–5 sequence caused a remarkable increase in analgesic potency, and a 3‐6 fold increase in potency of binding against [3H]‐dihydromorphine. The potency of receptor binding against [3H]‐EKC was also increased by incorporation of the whole dermorphin sequence into the dynorphin molecule. In the presence of NaCl (100mM), the effect of enhancing binding against [3H]‐EKC due to dermorphin substitution disappeared, suggesting the contribution of opioid μreceptor. Peripheral opioid activities assayed by various smooth muscle preparations showed that dermorphin incorporation caused a decrease in the potency of inhibition of the contractions of the guinea pig ileum and the rabbit vas deferens, no change in potency on the mouse vas deferens, and a marked increase in the inhibition of the rat vas deferens. Among the peripheral opioid activities only that assayed with the rat vas deferens appears to correlate approximately with the analgesic and the receptor binding activities. Judging from the relative potencies obtained from all assays, it is evident that the N‐terminal dermorphin moiety, but not the C‐terminal dynorphin fragment, dominates the opioid activity and receptor preference of the hybrid peptide.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)99-104
Number of pages6
JournalInternational Journal of Peptide and Protein Research
Volume35
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 1990
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • analgesia
  • dermorphin‐dynorphin hybrid peptides
  • peripheral opioid activities
  • receptor binding

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry

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