Small potent ligands to the insulin-regulated aminopeptidase (IRAP)/AT(4) receptor

J Pept Sci. 2007 Jul;13(7):434-44. doi: 10.1002/psc.859.

Abstract

Angiotensin IV analogs encompassing aromatic scaffolds replacing parts of the backbone of angiotensin IV have been synthesized and evaluated in biological assays. Several of the ligands displayed high affinities to the insulin-regulated aminopeptidase (IRAP)/AT(4) receptor. Displacement of the C-terminal of angiotensin IV with an o-substituted aryl acetic acid derivative delivered the ligand 4, which exhibited the highest binding affinity (K(i) = 1.9 nM). The high affinity of this ligand provides support to the hypothesis that angiotensin IV adopts a gamma-turn in the C-terminal of its bioactive conformation. Ligand (4) inhibits both human IRAP and aminopeptidase N-activity and induces proliferation of adult neural stem cells at low concentrations. Furthermore, ligand 4 is degraded considerably more slowly in membrane preparations than angiotensin IV. Hence, it might constitute a suitable research tool for biological studies of the (IRAP)/AT(4) receptor.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Angiotensin II / analogs & derivatives
  • Angiotensin II / chemical synthesis
  • Angiotensin II / chemistry
  • Angiotensin II / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cricetinae
  • Cricetulus
  • Cystinyl Aminopeptidase / genetics
  • Cystinyl Aminopeptidase / metabolism*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic
  • Humans
  • Ligands*
  • Mice
  • Models, Molecular
  • Neurons / cytology
  • Neurons / drug effects
  • Oligopeptides / chemical synthesis
  • Oligopeptides / metabolism*
  • Oligopeptides / pharmacology
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Conformation
  • Radioligand Assay
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Stem Cells / cytology
  • Stem Cells / drug effects
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Swine
  • Transfection

Substances

  • Ligands
  • Oligopeptides
  • Angiotensin II
  • angiotensin II, des-Asp(1)-des-Arg(2)-Ile(5)-
  • Cystinyl Aminopeptidase
  • leucyl-cystinyl aminopeptidase