Role of steric interactions in the delta opioid receptor selectivity of [D-Pen2, D-Pen5]enkephalin.

In order to assess the individual effects of each of the 3-methyl groups in residue 2 of [D-Pen2, D-Pen5]enkephalin on binding affinity to mu and delta opioid receptors, (2S,3S)methylcysteine ((3S)Me-D-Cys) and (2S,3R)methylcysteine ((3R)Me-D-Cys) were synthesized and incorporated into the analogs, [(3S)Me-D-Cys2, D-Pen5] enkephalin and [(3R)Me-D-Cys2, D-Pen5]enkephalin. Of these analogs, [(3S)Me-D-Cys2, D-Pen5]enkephalin appears from 1H n.m.r. spectra to assume a conformation similar to those of [D-Pen2, D-Pen5]enkephalin and the less delta receptor-selective, but more potent, [D-Cys2, D-Pen5]enkephalin. Assessment of binding affinity to mu and delta receptors revealed that [(3S)Me-D-Cys2, D-Pen5]enkephalin exhibits delta receptor affinity intermediate between [D-Pen2, D-Pen5]enkephalin and [D-Cys2, D-Pen5]enkephalin while its mu receptor affinity is similar to that of [D-Cys2, D-Pen5]enkephalin. These results suggest that, for [D-Pen2, D-Pen5]enkephalin, adverse steric interactions between the D-Pen2 pro-R methyl group and the mu receptor binding site lead to the low mu receptor binding affinity observed for this analog. By contrast, both the pro-R and pro-S D-Pen2 methyl groups lead to minor steric interactions which contribute to the somewhat lower delta receptor affinity of this compound.