New 2',6'-dimethyl-L-Tyrosine (Dmt) Opioid Peptidomimetics Based on the Aba-Gly Scaffold. Development of Unique µ-Opioid Receptor Ligands.

The Aba-Gly scaffold, incorporated into Dmt-Tic ligands (H-Dmt-Tic-Gly-NH-CH₂-Ph, H-Dmt-Tic-Gly-NH-Ph, H-Dmt-Tic-NH-CH₂-Bid), exhibited mixed μ/δ or δ opioid receptor activities with μ agonism. Substitution of Tic by Aba-Gly coupled to −NH−CH₂−Ph (1), −NH−Ph (2), or −Bid (Bid = 1H-benzimidazole-2-yl) (3) shifted affinity (K_i(μ) = 0.46, 1.48, and 19.9 nM, respectively), selectivity, and bioactivity to μ-opioid receptors. These compounds represent templates for a new class of lead opioid agonists that are easily synthesized and suitable for therapeutic pain relief.

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