1. Physical dependence of a dermorphin tetrapeptide analog, [D-Arg2, Sar4]-dermorphin (1-4) in the rat
S Sakurada, N Nakata, T Sakurada, K Kisara, K Suzuki, Y Sasaki Pharmacol Biochem Behav . 1986 Jan;24(1):27-31. doi: 10.1016/0091-3057(86)90039-0.
The characteristics of an analog of tetrapeptide dermorphin (H-Tyr-D-Arg-Phe-Sar-OH), [D-Arg2, Sar4]-dermorphin (1-4) were examined in comparison with morphine by the appearance of typical withdrawal signs upon cessation of administration or treatment with naloxone, an opioid antagonist. The dose of [D-Arg2, Sar4]-dermorphin (1-4) or morphine in the physical dependence test can be quantified by determining the ED50 to inhibit the tail-flick response to thermal stimuli. Doses from 8 to 64 times the ED50 doses were employed in the subcutaneous injection schedules. The cessation of [D-Arg2, Sar4]-dermorphin (1-4) or naloxone treatment was largely without effect on body weight, in contrast to a marked loss of weight in morphine-dependent rats. The tetrapeptide failed to substitute for morphine in morphine-dependent rats. The physical dependence of [D-Arg2, Sar4]-dermorphin (1-4) was revealed by the behavioral signs of withdrawal precipitated by naloxone. However, the scores of lacrimation, diarrhea and urination were much lower in chronically tetrapeptide-treated rats than in morphine-treated rats, though the score of teeth chatter was higher. These findings indicate that [D-Arg2, Sar4]-dermorphin (1-4) may differ from morphine in physical dependence.
2. Evaluation of [Cys(ATTO 488)8]Dermorphin-NH2 as a novel tool for the study of μ-opioid peptide receptors
Mark F Bird, Barbara Horley, David G Lambert, Remo Guerrini, Nidhuna Sabu, Erika Marzola, Girolamo Calo, Serena Chanoch, Despina Giakomidi, John McDonald PLoS One . 2021 Apr 23;16(4):e0250011. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0250011.
The μ-opioid peptide (MOP) receptor is a member of the opioid receptor family and an important clinical target for analgesia. Measuring MOP receptor location and tracking its turnover traditionally used radiolabels or antibodies with attendant problems of utility of radiolabels in whole cells and poor antibody selectivity. To address these issues we have synthesized and characterised a novel ATTO488 based fluorescent Dermorphin analogue; [Cys(ATTO 488)8]Dermorphin-NH2 (DermATTO488). We initially assessed the binding profile of DermATTO488 in HEK cells expressing human MOP and CHO cells expressing human MOP, δ-opioid peptide (DOP), κ-opioid peptide (KOP) and Nociceptin/Orphanin FQ peptide (NOP) receptors using radioligand binding. Functional activity of the conjugated peptide was assessed by measuring (i) the ability of the ligand to engage G-protein by measuring the ability to stimulate GTPγ[35S] binding and (ii) the ability to stimulate phosphorylation of ERK1/2. Receptor location was visualised using confocal scanning laser microscopy. Dermorphin and DermATTO488 bound to HEKMOP (pKi: 8.29 and 7.00; p0.05). Both ligands were inactive at KOP and NOP. Dermorphin and DermATTO488 stimulated the binding of GTPγ[35S] with similar pEC50 (7.84 and 7.62; p>0.05) and Emax (1.52 and 1.34fold p>0.05) values. Moreover, Dermorphin and DermATTO488 produced a monophasic stimulation of ERK1/2 phosphorylation peaking at 5mins (6.98 and 7.64-fold; p>0.05). Finally, in confocal microscopy DermATTO488 bound to recombinant MOP receptors on CHO and HEK cells in a concentration dependent manner that could be blocked by pre-incubation with unlabelled Dermorphin or Naloxone. Collectively, addition to ATTO488 to Dermorphin produced a ligand not dissimilar to Dermorphin; with ~10fold selectivity over DOP. This new ligand DermATTO488 retained functional activity and could be used to visualise MOP receptor location.
3. Involvement of endogenous opioid peptides in the antinociception induced by the novel dermorphin tetrapeptide analog amidino-TAPA
Bunsei Sato, Akihiko Yonezawa, Chizuko Watanabe, Tsukasa Sakurada, Shinobu Sakurada, Hirokazu Mizoguchi, Keiko Ohwada, Hiroyuki Watanabe, Kaori Moriyama Eur J Pharmacol . 2007 Apr 10;560(2-3):150-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2007.01.014.
The antinociceptive effect of i.t. administered N(alpha)-amidino-Tyr-d-Arg-Phe-beta-Ala (amidino-TAPA), an N-terminal tetrapeptide analog of dermorphin, was characterized in ddY mice. In the opioid receptor ligand-binding assays using mouse brain membranes, amidino-TAPA showed a very high affinity for mu-opioid receptors, a low affinity to delta-opioid receptors and no affinity for kappa-opioid receptors. In the mouse tail-flick test, i.t. treatment with amidino-TAPA produced a potent antinociception. The antinociception induced by amidino-TAPA was significantly attenuated by i.t. pretreatment with the mu-opioid receptor antagonist beta-funaltrexamine, the kappa-opioid receptor antagonist nor-binaltorphimine and the delta-opioid receptor antagonist naltrindole. Moreover, the antinociception induced by amidino-TAPA was significantly attenuated by i.t. pretreatment with antisera against the endogenous kappa-opioid peptides dynorphin A, dynorphin B and alpha-neo-endorphin; and the endogenous delta-opioid peptide [Leu(5)]enkephalin. In mice lacking prodynorphin, the precursor of the endogenous kappa-opioid peptides, the antinociceptive effect of amidino-TAPA was significantly attenuated compared to that in wild-type C57BL/6J mice. However, there was no difference in G-protein activation by amidino-TAPA in the spinal cord membranes from prodynorphin knockout mice and C57BL/6J mice. The present results suggest that the spinal antinociception induced by the mu-opioid receptor selective peptide amidino-TAPA is mediated in part by the release of endogenous opioid peptides in the spinal cord, which is caused by the direct stimulation of mu-opioid receptors.
