Differential receptor binding characteristics of consecutive phenylalanines in μ-opioid specific peptide ligand endomorphin-2 Original Research Article

Endogenous opioid peptides consist of a conserved amino acid residue of Phe3 and Phe4, although their binding modes for opioid receptors have not been elucidated in detail. Endomorphin-2, which is highly selective and specific for the μ opioid receptor, possesses two Phe residues at the consecutive positions 3 and 4. In order to clarify the role of Phe3 and Phe4 in binding to the μ receptor, we synthesized a series of analogs in which Phe3 and Phe4 were replaced by various amino acids. It was found that the aromaticity of the Phe-β-phenyl groups of Phe3 and Phe4 is a principal determinant of how strongly it binds to the receptor, although better molecular hydrophobicity reinforces the activity. The receptor binding subsites of Phe3 and Phe4 of endomorphin-2 were found to exhibit different structural requirements. The results suggest that [Trp3]endomorphin-2 (native endomorphin-1) and endomorphin-2 bind to different receptor subclasses.