Photoaffinity labeling of the angiotensin II receptor. 1. Synthesis and biological activities of the labeling peptides.

The synthesis and biological activities of analogues of the peptide hormone angiotensin II (AT) for use in photoaffinity labeling and receptor isolation are described. In the modified sequence of AT, Sar-Arg-Val-Tyr-Val-His-Pro-Phe, the aromatic residues Tyr and Phe have been either singly or simultaneously replaced by L-4'-nitrophenylalanine, L-4'-amino-3',5'-diiodophenylalanine, L-4'-aminophenylalanine, L-4'-diazoniumphenylalanine, and L-4'-azidophenylalanine. The peptides were assembled by solid-phase synthesis and the functional groups in position 4 and/or 8 chemically modified. Radioactivity was introduced by catalytic tritiation of the iodinated peptides to form the photolabeling precursors containing L-4'-amino-3',5'-diiodophenylalanine. On rabbit aorta the AT analogues substituted in position 4 showed poor affinities (0--15%), in position 8 high relative affinities (16--118%), and in position 4 and 8 additive effects of simultaneous substitutions. It is also shown that the new Boc derivative of L-4'-amino-3',5'-diiodophenylalanine can be used in peptide synthesis without side-chain protection.