Studies defining minimal receptor domains for angiotensin II.

The purpose of this study was to define in a systematic experimental manner the minimal amino acid domain(s) present in the angiotensin II molecule that are required for binding to, as well as activation of, its receptor at physiological concentrations. Although removal of the C-terminal phenylalanine residue markedly reduced affinity for the rabbit adrenal cortical receptor, sequential additions of amino acids beginning with phenylalanine did not result in a molecule with significant receptor affinity until the hexapeptide stage was reached. Similar receptor affinities were obtained with the other two possible 6 amino acid fragments in the molecule. None of the possible pentapeptide fragments were active, as was also the case with representative 4, 3 and 2 amino acid sequences. Of the three hexapeptides, only the one containing phenylalanine as the C-terminal amino acid displayed agonist activity on the rabbit aortic strip. The other two behaved as competitive antagonists. These results indicate that 6 amino acids constitute the minimal receptor binding domain present in the angiotensin II molecule and that phenylalanine is crucial at the C-terminus for activating the receptor.