Non-reducible cyclic, and azaphenylalanyl6 analogues of somatostatin

SSeven new analogues of somatostatin are described, along with the effects of these analogues on pentagastrin-stimulated gastric acid and pepsin secretion in conscious cats. Replacement of the cystine disulphide bridge of somatostatin with an amide bridge, with or without deletion of the N-terminal dipeptide, resulted in analogues with approximately 20% of the potency of somatostatin. Simultaneous ommision of Lys4 in the amide-bridge analogues reduced the activity of the peptides to approximately 5% of somatostatin. Substitution of Phe6 of somatostatin or an amide-bridged analogue with azaphenylalanyl resulted in peptides with no detectable activity. The results illustrate the possible importance of the basic side-chain of Lys4 for the activity of somatostatin. The lack of activity of azaphenylalanyl6 analogues of somatostatin demonstrate the extreme importance of the orientation of the side-chain of Phe6 for the activity of somatostatin, possibly for the binding to somatostatin receptors.