Study of the structural requirements for dopa potentiation and oxotremorine antagonism by L-prolyl-L-leucylglycinamide.

A number of analogs of the tripeptide L-prolyly-L-leucylglycinamide (1) were synthesized and evaluated in the Dopa potentiation and oxotremorine antagonism tests. The replacement of the glycinamide residue with either the glycine methylamide, glycine, aminoacetonitrile, amino-2-propanone, semicarbazide, or beta-alaninamide residues resulted in a loss of activity in both tests. A 1:1 mixture of L-prolyl-L-leucyl-(-)-thiazolidine-2-carboxamide (8) and L-prolyl-L-leucyl-(+)-thiazolidine-2-carboxamide (9) showed marked activity in the Dopa potentiation test but was unable to antagonize the tremors induced by oxotremorine. L-Prolyl-L-leucyl-L-prolinamide (11), on the other hand, was active in the oxotremorine antagonism test but inactive in the Dopa potentiation test. The replacement of the pyrrolidine ring of 1 with either a thiazolidine or cyclopentane ring system caused a loss of activity. The cyclopentanecarboxylic acid analogue 13, however, was found to have moderate activity in the serotonin potentiation test.