The family of neuropeptide
Y (NPY) receptors comprises four subtypes
(Y1R, Y2R, Y4R, Y5R),
which are addressed by at least three endogenous peptides, i.e., NPY,
peptide YY, and pancreatic polypeptide (PP), the latter showing a
preference for Y4R. A series of cyclic oligopeptidic Y4R ligands were prepared by applying a novel approach, i.e.,
N-terminus to arginine side-chain cyclization. Most peptides acted
as Y4R partial agonists, showing up to 60-fold higher Y4R affinity compared to the linear precursor peptides. Two
cyclic hexapeptides (18, 24) showed higher
Y4R potency (Ca2+ aequorin assay) and, with
pK
i values >10, also higher Y4R affinity compared to human pancreatic polypeptide (hPP). Compounds
such as 18 and 24, exhibiting considerably
lower molecular weight and considerably more pronounced Y4R selectivity than PP and previously described dimeric peptidic ligands
with high Y4R affinity, represent promising leads for the
preparation of labeled tool compounds and might support the development
of drug-like Y4R ligands.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.