Cyclization of parathyroid hormone related protein (7-34)amide [PTHrP(7-34)NH2] via covalent bond formation between the epsilon-amino of Lys13 and the beta-carboxyl of Asp17 yielded a 20-membered ring lactam. This analogue, [Lys13,Asp17]PTHrP(7-34)NH2, was 5-10-fold more potent than the linear parent peptide (Kb = 15 and 18 nM in PTH receptor binding assays, and Ki = 130 and 17 nM in PTH-stimulated adenylate cyclase assays in bovine renal cortical membrane and in human bone derived B10 cells, respectively). In contrast, a linear analogue in which charges in positions 13 and 17 were eliminated and other stereoisomers of the above-mentioned lactam in which either Lys13 and/or Asp17 were replaced by the corresponding D-amino acids were much less potent with regard to antagonist bioactivity than the parent peptide. The rationale for the design of the lactam as well as the conformational implications for the PTHrP sequence in light of reported models suggested for the 1-34 peptide are described. The potential use of conformationally constrained analogues for elucidating the "bioactive conformation" of antagonists and for the design of substantially simplified molecular structures for antagonists is discussed.

Previous studies examining the interaction of PTH and PTH-related protein (PTHrP) with target tissue have for the most part emphasized the similarity between the two hormones in binding to and activating receptors. This observation that two peptides with limited homology have equal affinities for the same receptor is unusual. In this report we investigated two aspects of PTH/PTHrP-receptor interactions. First, the nonhomologous 14-34 regions of PTH and PTHrP were synthesized and evaluated. Second, hybrid peptides containing the 7-18 fragment of one hormone combined with the 19-34 region of the other hormone were studied to determine whether interactions between these two regions are required for receptor recognition. All four peptides were examined in bovine renal cortical membrane and rat osteosarcoma (ROS 17/2.8) cell PTH-binding and PTH-stimulated adenylate cyclase assays. The results indicate that the receptor-binding domains of PTH and PTHrP lie outside of the 1-13 region, the region containing sequence homology shared by the two hormones, and that two peptides of different amino acid sequence bind with equal affinity to the bovine renal PTH receptor. However, in the absence of the N-terminal region, the rat bone PTH receptor displays a preference for the C-terminal (19-34 sequence) region of PTHrP.

One mechanism considered responsible for the hypercalcemia that frequently accompanies malignancy is secretion by the tumor of a circulating factor that alters calcium metabolism. The structure of a tumor-secreted peptide was recently determined and found to be partially homologous to parathyroid hormone (PTH). The amino-terminal 1-34 region of the factor was synthesized and evaluated biologically. In vivo it produced hypercalcemia, acted on bone and kidney, and stimulated 1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D3 formation. In vitro it interacted with PTH receptors and, in some systems, was more potent than PTH. These studies support a long-standing hypothesis regarding pathogenesis of malignancy-associated hypercalcemia.

PTHrP(7-34)NH2 and [D-Trp12]PTHrP(7-34)NH2 have previously been shown to be shown to be more potent antagonists than the corresponding PTH peptide, [Tyr34]bPTH(7-34)NH2. However, these peptides also display partial agonism for adenylate cyclase activity in ROS 17/2.8 cells. In this study, design of a pure potent antagonist of PTH and PTHrP by removal of agonism from PTHrP(7-34)NH2 with retention of antagonist potency was accomplished. Since [Tyr34]bPTH(7-34)NH2 lacks agonist activity, we introduced two amino acids native to the PTH sequence into their respective positions in PTHrP and the potent D-Trp12 analog. [Asn10Leu11]- and [Asn10,leu11,D-Trp12]-PTHrP(7-34)NH2 were found to be 23- and 26-fold more potent as antagonists in ROS cells than PTHrP(7-34)NH2 and [D-Trp12]PTHrP(7-34)NH2, respectively. In addition, these peptides did not display partial agonism, even in an assay based on highly responsive cells pretreated with dexamethasone and pertussis toxin. In contrast, when the PTHrP sequence Asp10,Lys11 was inserted into [Tyr34]hPTH(7-34)NH2, antagonist potency declined by more than 6-fold and PTH-like agonist activity was installed. These results demonstrate that the activation domain of both PTH and PTHrP can be extended to include the 1-12 region and that the 10-12 region, in addition to the N-terminal hexapeptide, is important not only for receptor binding but also for hormonal signal transduction.