Relative conformational rigidity in oxytocin and (1-penicillamine)-oxytocin: a proposal for the relationship of conformational flexibility to peptide hormone agonism and antagonism.

A comparative study of the proton and carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectral parameters of the peptide hormone oxytocin and of its competitive inhibitor [1-L-penicillamine]oxytocin has been made, and the results analyzed in terms of comparative conformational and dynamic properties. The results indicate that oxytocin has a flexible conformation, while [1-L-penicillamine]oxytocin has a more restricted conformation. The results provide a framework for understanding the mechanism of peptide hormone agonism and antagonism for these compounds, and an approach for understanding some features of the interaction of the hormone and related compounds with their receptor.