Synthesis of a β-tetrapeptide analog as a mother compound for the development of matrix metalloproteinase-2-imaging agents

Abstract

Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) is an attractive target for the diagnosis of cancer and atherosclerosis in nuclear imaging. A cyclic decapeptide, cCTTHWGFTLC (cCTT), has been used as the mother compound for the development of MMP-2-imaging agents with high potency and selectivity. Most of radiolabeled derivatives of cCTT currently developed for in vivo studies of MMP-2, however, suffer from low accumulation in the target tissues, such as tumors. For enhanced in vivo stability and tissue penetration, we designed a linear β-tetrapeptide analog, H-β3-Phe-β-Ala- β3-Trp-β3-His-OH (1), to mimic cCTT. The component β-amino acids were prepared by reduction of N-protected α-amino acid methyl esters to the alcohols, followed by conversion into the cyanides, and subsequent hydrolysis. Compound 1 was obtained from these β-amino acids by the conventional solution method. In MMP-2 inhibition assay, compound 1 displayed desirably significant inhibition, which was comparable to cCTT. These findings suggest that compound 1 may serve as a mother compound in the design and development of in vivo MMP-2-imaging agents. © 2008 Pharmaceutical Society of Japan.