Journal of Glycobiology
Open Access
ISSN: 2168-958X
+44 1478 350008
ISSN: 2168-958X
+44 1478 350008
Robin Polt
The University of Arizona, USA
Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Glycobiol
Diverse glycopeptides related to enkephalins, endorphins and dynorphin, to frog toxins, secretins and other biologically active peptide neurotransmitters and hormones have now been shown to penetrate the BBB to produce CNS effects. Short glycopeptides (5â??7 residues) produce mu agonism, delta agonism, or synergistic mu + delta agonism. By linking helical amphipathic â??addressesâ? to opioid â??messagesâ? it is possible to enhance their effects in vivo. The molecular weights (MW) of the glycopeptides do not appear to affect BBB penetration rates, at least in the range of MWâ??s examined so far, 550-3,500 Daltons. Mouse tail-flick assays and behavioral studies suggest that the mixed mu-delta agonism produces a powerful synergism to enhance anti-nociceptive effects while reducing sedative effects and locomotor stimulation. Use of MSN analysis in conjunction with microdialysis has been used to measure both stability and BBB penetration in unsedated rodents. With this advance it is now possible to determine PK/PD profiles for this new class of drugs that are rapidly cleared from serum by the kidneys. The glycopeptides can adopt conformations that render them either highly water soluble (random coil ensembles), or can adopt conformations that are highly amphipathic which associate strongly with biological membranes. Thus, the glycopeptides can act as intermittent surfactants, or â??biousian behavior.â?
Email: polt@email.arizona.edu