[d-1-Nal4]endomorphin-2 is a potent μ-opioid receptor antagonist in the aequorin luminescence-based calcium assay

A functional assay, based on aequorin-derived luminescence triggered by receptor-mediated changes in Ca2+ levels, was used to examine relative potency and efficacy of the μ-opioid receptor antagonists. A series of position 3- and 4-substituted endomorphin-2 (Tyr–Pro–Phe–Phe–NH2) analogues containing d-3-(1-naphthyl)-alanine (d-1-Nal) or d-3-(2-naphthyl)-alanine (d-2-Nal), which were previously shown to reverse antinociception induced by endomorphin-2 in the in vivo hot-plate test in mice, was tested in the aequorin luminescence-based calcium assay to examine their μ-opioid antagonist potency in vitro. A recombinant mammalian cell line expressing the μ-opioid receptor together with a luminescent reporter protein, apoaequorin, was used in the study. The results obtained in this functional assay indicated that analogues with d-1-Nal or d-2-Nal substitutions in position 4 of endomorphin-2 are strong μ-opioid receptor antagonists, while those substituted in position 3 are partial agonists. Exceptional antagonist potency in the calcium assay was observed for [d-1-Nal4]endomorphin-2. The pA2 value for this analogue was 7.95, compared to the value of 8.68 obtained for the universal, non-selective opioid antagonist of the alkaloid structure, naloxone. The obtained results were compared with the data from the hot-plate test in mice. In that in vivo assay [d-1-Nal4]endomorphin-2 was also the most potent analogue of the series.