Structure-Activity Relationships of a Novel Cyclic Hexapeptide That Exhibits Multifunctional Opioid Agonism and Produces Potent Antinociceptive Activity

The cyclic peptide c[d-Lys², Asp⁵]-DN-9 has recently been identified as a multifunctional opioid/Neuropeptide FF Receptor agonist, displaying potent analgesic activity with reduced side effects. This study utilized Tyr-c[d-Lys-Gly-Phe-Asp]-d-Pro-NH₂ (0), a cyclic hexapeptide derived from the opioid pharmacophore of c[d-Lys², Asp⁵]-DN-9, as a chemical template. We designed, synthesized, and characterized 22 analogs of 0 with a single amino acid substitution to investigate its structure-activity relationship. Most of these cyclic hexapeptide analogs exhibited multifunctional activity at μ and δ opioid receptors (MOR and DOR, respectively) and produced antinociceptive effects following subcutaneous administration. The lead compound analog 15 showed potent agonistic activities at the MOR, κ Opioid Receptor (KOR), and DOR in vitro and produced a strong and long-lasting analgesic effect through peripheral MOR and KOR in the tail-flick test. Further biological evaluation identified that analog 15 did not cause significant side effects such as tolerance, withdrawal, or reward liability.