Amino acids useful in making GnRH analogs

US5352796A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Salk Institute for Biological Studies · US

Inventors

• Carl A. Hoeger · San Marcos, US
• Jean E. F. Rivier · Village of La Jolla, US
• John S. Porter · Leucadia, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 17, 1993
• Grant date: Oct 4, 1994
• Expiry date: Jun 17, 2013

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02P20/55
• WIPO field: Pharmaceuticals
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Unnatural amino acids are provided which can be incorporated into peptides which either inhibit or promote the secretion of gonadotropins by the pituitary gland and inhibit the release of steroids by the gonads. These unnatural amino acids are useful in the synthesis of peptides and have the formula (a): ##STR1## where W is (CH.sub.2).sub.n or ##STR2## n is an integer from 1 to 6; j=1,2 or 3, and preferably, Y is N--CN, X is NH and R.sub.2 is alkyl, modified alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl or methyl pyridyl; or the formula (b): ##STR3## where R.sub.11 is H or acyl and W is as defined in (a), and preferably R.sub.11 is H and W is ##STR4## Disclosed are peptides that are analogs of the decapeptide GnRH wherein there is at least one residue of an unnatural amino acid in the 3-, 5-, 6- and/or 8-positions.