Structural requirements for mast cell triggering by substance P-like peptides.

Experiments were based on the hypothesis that the histamine releasing action of substance P and some other neuropeptides is not due to the interaction of the neuropeptide with a specific membrane receptor. Rather, this may be a property of many amphiphilic compounds having a minimal number of positives charges and a hydrophobic chain which is not necessarily a peptide. According to this hypothesis, 18 substance P derivatives and fragments were synthesized and tested on rat and hamster peritoneal mast cells, among them five compounds which contain a non-peptide chain instead of the C-terminal substance P heptapeptide. The results are in accord with the above hypothesis.