Peptide compositions
The present invention relates to polypeptide compounds that are modulators (e.g., agonists and antagonists) of the melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) and pharmaceutical compositions comprising same. The compounds described herein are polypeptide of the following structural Formula (I): or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. Values and preferred values of the variables in structural Formula (I) are described herein.
1. An isolated polypeptide of the following structural Formula (I):
or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,
wherein:
R 1 is —H, or a C1-C6 acyl;
R 2 is —NR 3 R 4 or —OR 5 , wherein R 3 , R 4 , and R 5 are each independently H or a C1-C6 alkyl;
A 1 is an amino acid residue selected from Arg, Lys, Orn, His, Phe, Val, Leu, Trp, Tyr, Ala, Ser, Thr, Gln, Asn, Asp, Glu, or TzAla; or
A 1 is a moiety selected from an optionally substituted C1-C12 alkyl, an optionally substituted C6-C18 aryl, an optionally substituted C5-C18 heteroaryl, an aralkyl wherein the aryl portion is an optionally substituted C6-C18 aryl, and the alkyl portion is an optionally substituted C1-C12 alkyl, or a heteroaralkyl, wherein the heteroaryl portion is an optionally substituted C5-C18 heteroaryl, and the alkyl portion is an optionally substituted C1-C12 alkyl; or
A 1 is absent; or
A 2 and A 8 is each independently an amino acid residue selected from Cys, hCys, Pen, Asp, Glu, Lys, Orn, Dbu, or Dpr, wherein A 2 and A 8 are pairwise selected so as to be able to form covalent bond between their respective side chains;
A 3 is an amino acid residue selected from Ala, Tle, Val, Leu, Ile, Cha, Pro, Ser, Thr, Lys, Arg, His, Phe, Gln, Sar, Gly, Asn, Aib, or
A 3 is absent, or
A 3 is residue Y, wherein Y is an amino acid selected from amino acids represented by the following structural formulas
wherein:
R 11 and R 12 , each independently, is H, —CH 3 , phenyl, or benzyl;
R 21 , R 22 , R 23 , and R 24 , each independently is H, —CH 3 , —CF 3 , phenyl, benzyl, F, Cl, Br, I, —OCH 3 , or —OH;
R 31 , R 32 , R 33 , R 34 , R 41 , R 42 , and R 43 , each independently is H, —CH 3 , —CF 3 , phenyl, benzyl, F, Cl, Br, I, —OCH 3 , or —OH;
A 4 is absent or is an amino acid residue selected from Atc, Ala, QAla, Aib, Sar, Ser, Thr, Pro, Hyp, Asn, Gln, an optionally substituted His, Trp, Tyr, Lys, Arg, sChp, or residue X, where the X is an amino acid selected from amino acids represented by the following structural formulas:
wherein:
R 51 and R 52 , each independently, is H, —CH 3 , phenyl, or benzyl;
R 61 , R 62 , R 63 , and R 64 , each independently is H, —CH 3 , —CF 3 , phenyl, benzyl, F, Cl, Br, I, —OCH 3 , or —OH;
R 71 , R 72 , R 73 , R 74 , R 81 , R 82 , and R 83 , each independently is H, —CH 3 , —CF 3 , phenyl, benzyl, F, Cl, Br, I, —OCH 3 , or —OH;
A 5 is an optionally substituted Phe, an optionally substituted 1-Nal, or an optionally substituted 2-Nal;
A 6 is Arg; and
A 7 is Trp,
wherein any amino acid residue is either in L- or in D-configuration, provided that:
1) A 3 and A 4 are not both absent;
2) when A 4 is an amino acid, A 3 is not Aib or Gly;
3) when A 4 is unsubstituted His and A 5 is unsubstituted D-Phe or 2-Nal, A 3 is not a D-amino acid or L-Ala;
4) when A 2 and A 8 each is selected from Cys, hCys or Pen, then:
(a) when A 4 is absent, then A 3 is not L-His;
(b) when A 3 is absent, then A 4 is not L-His;
(c) when A 4 is His, then A 3 is not Glu, Leu, or Lys; and
5) when A 2 is Asp, Glu, Lys, or Orn, then A 8 is not Asp, Glu, Lys, or Orn.
2. An isolated polypeptide of claim 1 , wherein:
R 1 is —H, or a C1-C6 acyl;
R 2 is —NR 3 R 4 , or —OR 5 wherein R 3 , R 4 , and R 5 are each independently is H or a C1-C6 alkyl;
A 1 is absent; or
A 1 is an amino acid residue selected from Arg, Lys, Orn, His, Phe, Val, Leu, Trp, Tyr, Ala, Ser, Thr, Gln, Asn, Asp, Glu, or TzAla; or
A 1 is a moiety selected from an optionally substituted C1-C12 alkyl, an optionally substituted C6-C18 aryl, an optionally substituted C5-C18 heteroaryl, an aralkyl wherein the aryl portion is an optionally substituted C6-C18 aryl, and the alkyl portion is an optionally substituted C1-C12 alkyl, or a heteroaralkyl, wherein the heteroaryl portion is an optionally substituted C5-C18 heteroaryl, and the alkyl portion is an optionally substituted C1-C12 alkyl;
A 2 and A 8 is each independently an amino acid residue selected from Cys, hCys, Pen, Asp, Glu, Lys, Orn, Dbu, or Dpr, wherein A 2 and A 8 are pairwise selected so as to be able to form covalent bond between their respective side chains;
A 3 is absent or is an amino acid residue selected from Ala, Tle, Val, Leu, Be, Cha, Pro, Ser, Thr, Lys, Arg, His, Phe, Gln, Sar, Gly, Asn, or Aib;
A 4 is absent or is an amino acid residue selected from Atc, Ala, QAla, Aib, Sar, Ser, Thr, Pro, Hyp, Asn, Gln, an optionally substituted His, Trp, Tyr, Lys, Arg, sChp, or residue X, where the X is an amino acid represented by the following structural formula
A 5 is an optionally substituted Phe, an optionally substituted 1-Nal, or an optionally substituted 2-Nal;
A 6 is Arg; and
A 7 is Trp, wherein any amino acid residue is either in L- or in D-configuration.
3. The polypeptide of claim 1 , wherein A 3 is a D-amino acid.
4. The polypeptide of claim 1 , wherein A 4 is an L-amino acid.
5. The polypeptide of claim 1 , wherein A 5 is an optionally substituted D-Phe.
6. The polypeptide of claim 1 , wherein A 5 is a D-amino acid residue selected from: Phe, Phe(2′-F), Phe(2′-Cl), Phe(2′-Br), Phe(2′-I), Phe(2′-CN), Phe(2′-CH 3 ), Phe(2′-OCH 3 ), Phe(2′-CF 3 ), Phe(2′-NO 2 ), Phe(3′-F), Phe(3′-Cl), Phe(3′-Br), Phe(3′-I), Phe(3′-CN), Phe(3′-CH 3 ), Phe(3′-OCH 3 ), Phe(3′-CF 3 ), Phe(3′-NO 2 ), Phe(4′-F), Phe(4′-Cl), Phe(4′-Br), Phe(4′-I), Phe(4′-CN), Phe(4′-CH 3 ), Phe(4′-OCH 3 ), Phe(4′-CF 3 ), Phe(4′-NO 2 ), Phe(4′-t-Bu), Phe(2′,4′-diF), Phe(2′,4′-diCl), Phe(2′,4′-diBr), Phe(2′,4′-diI), Phe(2′,4′-di-CN), Phe(2′,4′-di-CH 3 ), Phe(2′,4′-di-OCH 3 ), Phe(3′,4′-diF), Phe(3′,4′-diCl), Phe(3′,4′-diBr), Phe(3′,4′-diI), Phe(3′,4′-di-CN), Phe(3′,4′-di-CH 3 ), Phe(3′,4′-di-OCH 3 ), Phe(3′,5′-diF), Phe(3′,5′-diCl), Phe(3′,5′-diBr), Phe(3′,5′-diI), Phe(3′, 5′-di-CN), Phe(3′,5′-diCH 3 ), Phe(3′,5′-di-OCH 3 ), or Phe(3′,4′,5′-triF).
7. The polypeptide of claim 1 , represented by any one of the following structural formulas:
or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
8. The polypeptide of claim 1 , wherein A 4 is an amino acid residue selected from Atc, Ala, QAla, Aib, Sar, Ser, Thr, Pro, Hyp, Asn, Gln, a substituted His, Trp, Tyr, Lys, Arg, sChp, and residue X.
9. The polypeptide of claim 8 , represented by any one of the following structural formulas:
(SEQ ID NO: 36)
Ac-Arg-cyclo[Cys-D-Ala-His(3-Me)-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-
Cys]-NH 2 ;
(SEQ ID NO: 37)
Ac-Arg-cyclo[Cys-D-Ala-His(1-Me)-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-
Cys]-NH 2 ;
(SEQ ID NO: 9)
Ac-Arg-cyclo[Cys-D-Ala-Trp-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Cys]-NH 2 ;
(SEQ ID NO: 8)
Ac-Arg-cyclo[Cys-D-Ala-Gln-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Cys]-NH 2 ;
(SEQ ID NO: 7)
Ac-Arg-cyclo[Cys-D-Ala-Asn-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Cys]-NH 2 ;
(SEQ ID NO: 38)
Ac-Arg-cyclo[Cys-D-Ala-Arg-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Cys]-NH 2 ;
(SEQ ID NO: 39)
Ac-Arg-cyclo[Cys-D-Ala-Tyr-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Cys]-
NH 2 ;
(SEQ ID NO: 40)
Ac-Arg-cyclo[Cys-D-Ala-D-Pro-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Cys]-
NH 2 ;
(SEQ ID NO: 2)
Ac-Arg-cyclo[Cys-D-Ala-Pro-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Cys]-NH 2 ;
(SEQ ID NO: 4)
Ac-Arg-cyclo[Cys-D-Ala-Pro-D-Phe(p-F)-Arg-Trp-
Cys]-NH 2 ;
(SEQ ID NO: 41)
Ac-Arg-cyclo[Cys-D-Ala-Atc-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Cys]-NH 2 ;
(SEQ ID NO: 42)
Ac-Arg-cyclo[Cys-D-Ala-QAla-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Cys]-
NH 2 ;
(SEQ ID NO: 43)
Ac-Arg-cyclo[Cys-D-Ala-sChp-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Cys]-
NH 2 ;
or
(SEQ ID NO: 44)
Ac-Arg-cyclo[Cys-D-Ala-X-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Cys]-NH 2 ,
or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
10. The polypeptide of claim 1 , represented by any one of the following structural formulas:
(SEQ ID NO: 37)
Ac-Arg-cyclo[Cys-D-Ala-His(1-Me)-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-
Cys]-NH 2 ;
(SEQ ID NO: 8)
Ac-Arg-cyclo[Cys-D-Ala-Gln-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Cys]-NH 2 ;
or
(SEQ ID NO: 7)
Ac-Arg-cyclo[Cys-D-Ala-Asn-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Cys]-NH 2 ,
or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
11. The polypeptide of claim 1 , wherein A 2 is an amino acid residue selected from Cys, hCys, Pen, Lys, Orn, Dbu, and Dpr.
12. The polypeptide of claim 1 , wherein A 4 is an amino acid residue selected from Atc, Ala, QAla, Aib, Sar, Ser, Thr, Pro, Hyp, Asn, Gln, Trp, Tyr, Lys, Arg, sChp, and residue X.
13. The polypeptide of claim 1 , wherein A 4 is Gln.
14. The polypeptide of claim 1 , wherein A 5 is a D-amino acid.
15. The polypeptide of claim 1 , wherein A 5 is D-Phe.
16. The polypeptide of claim 1 , wherein A 8 is an amino acid residue selected from Cys, hCys, Pen, Asp, Glu, Orn, Dbu, and Dpr.
17. An isolated polypeptide of the following structural Formula (I):
or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein:
R 1 is —H, or a C1-C6 acyl;
R 2 is —NR 3 R 4 or —OR 5 , wherein R 3 , R 4 , and R 5 are each independently H or a C1-C6 alkyl;
A 1 is an amino acid residue selected from Arg, Lys, Orn, His, Nle, Phe, Val, Leu, Trp, Tyr, Ala, Ser, Thr, Gln, Asn, Asp, Glu, or TzAla; or
A 1 is a moiety selected from an optionally substituted C1-C12 alkyl, an optionally substituted C6-C18 aryl, an optionally substituted C5-C18 heteroaryl, an aralkyl wherein the aryl portion is an optionally substituted C6-C18 aryl, and the alkyl portion is an optionally substituted C1-C12 alkyl, or a heteroaralkyl, wherein the heteroaryl portion is an optionally substituted C5-C18 heteroaryl, and the alkyl portion is an optionally substituted C1-C12 alkyl; or
A 1 is absent; or
A 2 is an amino acid residue selected from Cys, hCys, Pen, Asp, Glu, Lys, Orn, Dbu, or Dpr, and A 8 is an amino acid residue selected from Cys, hCys, Pen, Asp, Glu, Orn, Dbu, or Dpr, wherein A 2 and A 8 are pairwise selected so as to be able to form covalent bond between their respective side chains;
A 3 is an amino acid residue selected from Ala, Tle, Val, Leu, Ile, Cha, Pro, Ser, Thr, Lys, Arg, His, Phe, Gln, Sar, Gly, Asn, Aib, or
A 3 is absent, or
A 3 is residue Y, wherein Y is an amino acid selected from amino acids represented by the following structural formulas
wherein:
R 11 and R 12 , each independently, is H, —CH 3 , phenyl, or benzyl;
R 21 , R 22 , R 23 , and R 24 , each independently is H, —CH 3 , —CF 3 , phenyl, benzyl, F, Cl, Br, I, —OCH 3 , or —OH;
R 31 , R 32 , R 33 , R 34 , R 41 , R 42 , and R 43 , each independently is H, —CH 3 , —CF 3 , phenyl, benzyl, F, Cl, Br, I, —OCH 3 , or —OH;
A 4 is absent or is an amino acid residue selected from Atc, Ala, QAla, Aib, Sar, Ser, Thr, Pro, Hyp, Asn, Gln, an optionally substituted His, Trp, Tyr, Lys, Arg, sChp, or residue X, where the X is an amino acid selected from amino acids represented by the following structural formulas:
wherein:
R 51 and R 52 , each independently, is H, —CH 3 , phenyl, or benzyl;
R 61 , R 62 , R 63 , and R 64 , each independently is H, —CH 3 , —CF 3 , phenyl, benzyl, F, Cl, Br, I, —OCH 3 , or —OH;
R 71 , R 72 , R 73 , R 74 , R 81 , R 82 , and R 83 , each independently is H, —CH 3 , —CF 3 , phenyl, benzyl, F, Cl, Br, I, —OCH 3 , or —OH;
A 5 is an optionally substituted Phe, an optionally substituted 1-Nal, or an optionally substituted 2-Nal;
A 6 is Arg; and
A 7 is Trp,
wherein any amino acid residue is either in L- or in D-configuration, provided that:
1) A 3 and A 4 are not both absent;
2) when A 4 is an amino acid, A 3 is not Aib or Gly; and
3) when A 4 is His and A 5 is a D-Phe or 2-Nal, A 3 is not a D-amino acid or L-Ala;
4) when A 2 and A 8 each is selected from Cys, hCys or Pen, then:
(a) when A 4 is absent, then A 3 is not L-His;
(b) when A 3 is absent, then A 4 is not L-His;
(c) when A 4 is His, then A 3 is not Glu, Leu, or Lys; and
5) when A 2 is Asp, Glu, Lys, or Orn, then A 8 is not Asp, Glu, Dpr, or Orn.
18. The isolated polypeptide of claim 1 , wherein:
R 2 is —NR 3 R 4 ;
A 1 is an amino acid residue selected from Arg, Glu, TzAla, C1-C12 alkyl, or an aralkyl wherein the aryl portion is an optionally substituted C6-C18 aryl;
A 2 is an amino acid residue selected from Cys, hCys, Pen, Asp, Glu, or Dpr, and A 8 is an amino acid residue selected from Cys, hCys, Pen, Glu, Orn, Dbu, or Dpr, wherein A 2 and A 8 are pairwise selected so as to be able to form covalent bond between their respective side chains;
A 3 is an amino acid residue selected from Ala, Tle, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Ser, Gln, Sar, Aib, or
A 3 is absent, and
A 4 is absent or is an amino acid residue selected from Atc, Ala, QAla, Aib, Sar, Ser, Thr, Pro, Hyp, Asn, Gln, an optionally substituted His, Trp, Tyr, Lys, Arg, or sChp.
19. The polypeptide of claim 1 , wherein R 1 is C1-C6 acyl.
20. The polypeptide of claim 1 , wherein A 1 is Arg.
21. The polypeptide of claim 1 , wherein A 2 is an amino acid residue selected from Glu, Cys, and hCys.
22. The polypeptide of claim 1 , wherein A 3 is an amino acid residue selected from Ala, Val, and D-Gln.
23. The polypeptide of claim 1 , wherein A 4 is absent.
24. The polypeptide of claim 1 , wherein A 8 is an amino acid residue selected from Cys, Dpr, and Pen.
25. The polypeptide of claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide is selected from any one of the following structural formulas:
(SEQ ID NO: 15)
Ac-Arg-cyclo[hCys-Ala-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Cys]-NH 2 ;
(SEQ ID NO: 14)
Ac-Arg-cyclo[hCys-D-Ala-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Cys]-NH 2 ;
(SEQ ID NO: 45)
Ac-Arg-cyclo[hCys-D-Ala-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Pen]-NH 2 ;
(SEQ ID NO: 26)
Ac-Arg-cyclo[Glu-D-Ala-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Dpr]-NH 2 ;
(SEQ ID NO: 27)
Ac-Arg-cyclo[Glu-Ala-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Dpr]-NH 2 ;
(SEQ ID NO: 46)
Ac-Arg-cyclo[hCys-Aib-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Cys]-NH 2 ;
(SEQ ID NO: 47)
Ac-Arg-cyclo[hCys-Sar-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Cys]-NH 2 ;
(SEQ ID NO: 48)
Ac-Arg-cyclo[hCys-Val-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Cys]-NH 2 ;
(SEQ ID NO: 49)
Ac-Arg-cyclo[hCys-D-Val-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Cys]-NH 2 ;
(SEQ ID NO: 50)
Ac-Arg-cyclo[hCys-Gln-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Cys]-NH 2 ;
(SEQ ID NO: 51)
Ac-Arg-cyclo[hCys-D-Gln-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Cys]-NH 2 ;
(SEQ ID NO: 52)
Ac-Arg-cyclo[hCys-Ala-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Pen]-NH 2 ;
(SEQ ID NO: 53)
Ac-Arg-cyclo[D-Pen-D-Ala-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-hCys]-NH 2 ;
(SEQ ID NO: 17)
Ac-Arg-cyclo[Cys-D-Ala-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-hCys]-NH 2 ;
(SEQ ID NO: 54)
Ac-Arg-cyclo[Pen-D-Ala-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-hCys]-NH 2 ;
(SEQ ID NO: 55)
Ac-Arg-cyclo[D-hCys-D-Ala-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Cys]-NH 2 ;
(SEQ ID NO: 20)
Ac-Arg-cyclo[hCys-Pro-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Cys]-NH 2 ;
or
(SEQ ID NO: 56)
Ac-Arg-cyclo[hCys-D-Pro-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Cys]-NH 2 ,
or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
26. The polypeptide of claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide is selected from any one of the following structural formulas:
(SEQ ID NO: 27)
Ac-Arg-cyclo[Glu-Ala-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Dpr]-NH 2 ;
(SEQ ID NO: 48)
Ac-Arg-cyclo[hCys-Val-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Cys]-NH 2 ;
(SEQ ID NO: 51)
Ac-Arg-cyclo[hCys-D-Gln-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Cys]-NH 2 ;
(SEQ ID NO: 52)
Ac-Arg-cyclo[hCys-Ala-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Pen]-NH 2 ;
and
or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
27. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the polypeptide of claim 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.