Discovery of Polypharmacological Melanocortin-3 and -4 Receptor Probes and Identification of a 100-Fold Selective nM MC3R Agonist Versus a μM MC4R Partial Agonist

Authors

Katlyn A. Fleming, University of Minnesota
Katie T. Freeman, University of Minnesota
Mike D. Powers, University of Minnesota
Radleigh Santos, Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular StudiesFollow
Ginamarie Debevac, Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies
Marc Giulianotti, Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies
Richard A. Houghten, Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies
Skye R. Doering, University of Minnesota
Clemencia Pinilla, Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies
Carrie Haskell-Luevano, University of Minnesota

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-11-2019

Publication Title

Journal of Medicinal Chemistry

Keywords

Antagonists, Peptides and proteins, Agonists, Ligands receptors

ISSN

0022-2623

Volume

62

Issue/No.

5

First Page

2738

Last Page

2749

Abstract

The centrally expressed melanocortin-3 and melanocortin-4 receptors (MC3R and MC4R, respectively) are established targets to treat diseases of positive- and negative-energy homeostasis. We previously reported mixture-based positional scanning approaches to identify dual MC3R agonist and MC4R antagonist tetrapeptides. Herein, 46 tetrapeptides were chosen for MC3R agonist screening selectivity profiles, synthesized, and pharmacologically characterized at the mouse melanocortin-1, -3, -4, and -5 receptors. Substitutions to the tetrapeptide template were selected solely based on MC3R agonist potency from the mixture-based screen. This study resulted in the discovery of compound 42 (Ac-Val-Gln-(pI)DPhe-DTic-NH₂), a full MC3R agonist that is 100-fold selective for the MC3R over the μM MC4R partial agonist pharmacology. This compound represents a first-in-class MC3R selective agonist. This ligand will serve as a useful in vivo molecular probe for the investigation of the roles of the MC3R and MC4R in diseases of dysregulated energy homeostasis.

Comments

©2019 American Chemical Society

NSUWorks Citation

Fleming, Katlyn A.; Freeman, Katie T.; Powers, Mike D.; Santos, Radleigh; Debevac, Ginamarie; Giulianotti, Marc; Houghten, Richard A.; Doering, Skye R.; Pinilla, Clemencia; and Haskell-Luevano, Carrie, "Discovery of Polypharmacological Melanocortin-3 and -4 Receptor Probes and Identification of a 100-Fold Selective nM MC3R Agonist Versus a μM MC4R Partial Agonist" (2019). Mathematics Faculty Articles. 288.
https://nsuworks.nova.edu/math_facarticles/288

DOI

10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b00053