Design and synthesis of an investigational nonapeptide KISS1 receptor (KISS1R) agonist, Ac-d-Tyr-hydroxyproline (Hyp)-Asn-Thr-Phe-azaGly-Leu-Arg (Me)-Trp-NH2 …

N Nishizawa, Y Takatsu, S Kumano… - Journal of Medicinal …, 2016 - ACS Publications
N Nishizawa, Y Takatsu, S Kumano, A Kiba, J Ban, S Tsutsumi, H Matsui, S Matsumoto…
Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 2016ACS Publications
Metastin/kisspeptin is an endogenous ligand of KISS1 Receptor (KISS1R). Metastin and
KISS1R are suggested to play crucial roles in regulating the secretion of gonadotropin-
releasing hormone (GnRH), and continuous administration of metastin derivatives
attenuated the plasma testosterone levels in male rats. Our optimization studies of metastin
derivatives led to the discovery of 1 (Ac-d-Tyr-d-Trp-Asn-Thr-Phe-azaGly-Leu-Arg (Me)-Trp-
NH2, TAK-683), which suppressed plasma testosterone in rats at lower doses than those of …
Metastin/kisspeptin is an endogenous ligand of KISS1 Receptor (KISS1R). Metastin and KISS1R are suggested to play crucial roles in regulating the secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), and continuous administration of metastin derivatives attenuated the plasma testosterone levels in male rats. Our optimization studies of metastin derivatives led to the discovery of 1 (Ac-d-Tyr-d-Trp-Asn-Thr-Phe-azaGly-Leu-Arg(Me)-Trp-NH2, TAK-683), which suppressed plasma testosterone in rats at lower doses than those of leuprolide. Although 1 possessed extremely potent pharmacological activity, 20 mg/mL aqueous solution of 1 has a gel formation property. In order to improve this physicochemical property, we substituted d-Trp at position 47 with a variety of amino acids; we identified that substitution with cyclic amino acids, which could change peptide conformation, retained its potency. Especially, analogue 24 (TAK-448) with trans-4-hydroxyproline (Hyp) at position 47 showed not only superior pharmacological activity to 1 but also excellent water solubility. Furthermore, 20 mg/mL aqueous solution of 24 did not show gel formation up to 5 days.
ACS Publications