Proposals for the mu-active conformation of the enkephalin analog Tyr-cyclol(-N gamma-D-A2-bu-Gly-Phe-Leu-).

The conformational behavior of the sterically restricted cyclic peptide Tyr-cyclo(-N gamma-D-A2-bu-Gly-Phe-Leu-), proposed recently as an enkephalin analog with high opiate activity, is examined by theoretical investigations. The method used allows the search of conformational energy minima associated with cyclic structures fitting a hypothetical opiate pharmacophore. The results obtained show that, despite the fact that many cyclic structures of low conformational energy can be found for this compound, only one of them can be retained as a conformer presenting the characteristic features of the imposed pharmacophore. This conformation is stabilized by an intramolecular H-bond between the D-A2bu-carbonyl and the Leu NH group so that a beta-turn is formed. This structure also presents a high mobility of the Tyr1 side-chain which can fit the tyramine moiety of rigid opiates with minor loss of conformational energy. A two-step binding mechanism is proposed for the interactions of this cyclic peptide with its receptor which could be an intermediate between the "zipper" model proposed for flexible linear peptides and the "lock-and-key" model adapted to rigid molecules. The selectivity of enkephalin analogs for mu and delta opioid receptors is discussed in light of the present theoretical investigations.