Short pseudopeptides containing turn scaffolds with high AT(2) receptor affinity

Two pentapeptides, Ac-Tyr-Ile-His-Pro-Phe/Ile, were synthesized and shown to have angiotensin II AT(2) receptor affinity and agonistic activity. Based on these peptides, a new series of 13 pseudopeptides was synthesized via introduction of five different turn scaffolds replacing the Tyr-Ile amino acid residues. Pharmacological evaluation disclosed subnanomolar affinities for some of these compounds at the AT(2) receptor. Substitution of Phe by Ile in this series of ligands enhanced the AT(2) receptor affinity of all compounds. These results suggest that the C-terminal amino acid residues can be elaborated on to enhance the AT(2) receptor affinity in truncated Ang II analogues.