Analogues of the neuroprotective tripeptide Gly-Pro-Glu (GPE): synthesis and structure–activity relationships

A series of GPE analogues, including modifications at the Pro and/or Glu residues, was prepared and evaluated for their NMDA binding and neuroprotective effects. Main results suggest that the pyrrolidine ring puckering of the Pro residue plays a key role in the biological responses, while the preference for cis or trans rotamers around the Gly-Pro peptide bond is not important.

Graphical abstractA series of Pro and/or Glu modified GPE analogues is described. Compounds incorporating PMe and dmP showed higher affinity for glutamate receptors than GPE and neuroprotective effects similar to those of this endogenous tripeptide in culture hippocampal neurons exposed to NMDA.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide