Synthesis of a biotinylated, iodinatable, and photoactivatable probe for angiotensin receptors.

We propose here a biotinyl-aminohexanoyl-[Ala1, Phe(4N3)8]angiotensin II analog as a radioiodinatable and photoactivatable probe for covalent labeling, detection and isolation of angiotensin receptors. A combination of solid phase and minimum-protection segment-coupling strategy using hexafluorophosphate of (benzotriazol-1-yloxy)tris(dimethylamino)phosphonium (BOP) as a coupling reagent is proposed for the synthesis of this probe. Optimized yields were obtained by HPLC monitoring of all reactions. A complete n.m.r. study suggests an extended conformation of this molecule, allowing a simultaneous recognition of receptor and avidin. The probe binds with high affinity (Kd = 2 nM) to angiotensin II receptors from rat liver membranes.