A series of bifunctional peptides that act as agonists for
and
opioid receptors
with
selectivity and asantagonist for neurokinin-1 (NK1) receptors
were designed and synthesized for potential application asanalgesics in various pain states. The peptides
were characterized using radioligand binding assays andfunctional assays using cell membrane and animal tissue. Optimization
was performed on the fifth residue
which serves as an address moiety for both receptor recognitions. It had critical effects on both activities at
/
opioid receptors and NK1 receptors. Among the synthesized peptides, H-Tyr-
D-Ala-Gly-Phe-Met-Pro-Leu-Trp-O-3,5-Bzl(CF
3)
2 (
5) and H-Tyr-
D-Ala-Gly-Phe-Nle-Pro-Leu-Trp-O-3,5-Bzl(CF
3)
2 (
7) had excellentagonist activity for both
opioid and
opioid receptors and excellent antagonist activity for NK1 receptors.These results indicate that the rational design of multifunctional ligands
with opioid agonist and neurokinin-1antagonist activities can be accomplished and may provide a ne
w tool for treatment of chronic and severalpain states.