10.1021/jm300947s
The study focuses on the synthesis and evaluation of cyclic and linear analogues of endomorphin-2 (EM-2), a potent opioid peptide. The researchers replaced the native Pro2 residue with cis-4-amino-L-proline (cAmp) to create a more constrained cyclic structure and introduced variations in the stereochemistry of the Phe3 and Phe4 residues to modulate receptor affinity. They synthesized eight new analogues with different stereochemical configurations at the chiral centers of these aromatic residues. The aim was to enhance the affinity and activity towards μ-opioid receptors. The study found that the stereochemical changes led to significant improvements in affinity and activity compared to the prototype compound, with some analogues showing nanomolar binding affinity. The results provide insights into the structural requirements for optimal receptor interaction and could inform the development of more effective opioid therapeutics.