The nociceptin/orphanin FQ receptor ligand acetyl-RYYRIK-amide exhibits antagonistic and agonistic properties

The hexapeptide acetyl-RYYRIK-amide (Ac-RYYRIK-NH(2)) has recently been reported to act as partial agonist of the nociceptin/orphanin FQ (noc/OFQ) receptor expressed in CHO cells. In addition, this peptide acts as a competitive antagonist of noc/OFQ-stimulated GTPgamma(35)S binding in rat brain membranes as well as of the noc/OFQ-evoked chronotropic effect in rat cardiomyocytes. In contrast to this antagonism, in the present study, Ac-RYYRIK-NH(2) was found to behave as an agonist at noc/OFQ receptors, affecting spontaneous locomotor activity. When administered intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.), noc/OFQ and Ac-RYYRIK-NH(2) inhibited spontaneous locomotor activity in mice with ID(50) of 1.1 and 0.07 nmol, respectively. Co-administration of both Peptides lead to additive effects. The higher potency of Ac-RYYRIK-NH(2) could not be clearly explained by differential metabolism, because in vivo microdialysis in rat striatum and in vitro metabolic inactivation by rat and mouse brain membranes revealed extensive inactivation of both Peptides. Similar to Ac-RYYRIK-NH(2), [Phe(1)psi(CH(2)-NH)Gly(2)]noc/OFQ(1-13)-NH(2) ([F/G]NC(1-13)NH(2)) inhibited the noc/OFQ-stimulated GTPgamma(35)S binding in rat brain membranes (Schild constant 3.83 nM) and mouse brain sections, although several reports have shown that this peptide exhibits agonist activity of noc/OFQ in the CNS. Changes in the optimum conditions of the in vitro assay for GTP binding increased low partial agonism of Ac-RYYRIK-NH(2) in GTP binding response. To explain the discrepancy between the in vitro antagonism of G protein coupling of the noc/OFQ receptor and in vivo agonism of Ac-RYYRIK-NH(2) and of [F/G]NC(1-13)NH(2), it is suggested that low partial agonism of receptor/G protein coupling in native systems may be sufficient to evoke full biologic responses. The extent of partial agonism for GTP binding and of coupling reserve may vary in different systems, thus explaining why [F/G]NC(1-13)NH(2) and Ac-RYYRIK-NH(2) were reported to exhibit antagonist, partial agonist, or even full agonist properties, depending on the system studied.