Modulation of αvβ3- and α5β1-integrin-mediated adhesion by dehydro-β-amino acids containing peptidomimetics

A novel class of low molecular weight ligands of αvβ 3 and α5β1 integrins, that possess a dehydro-&beta-amino acid as conformationally constrained core, linked to the pharmacophoric moieties mimicking the RGD recognition sequence, have been synthesized through a very simple protocol. Cell adhesion assays and integrin-mediated signaling activation experiments suggested a good affinity of these compounds toward both integrin receptors. Moreover, further elongation with two glycine units allowed to obtain an excellent dual inhibitor. Structural models for αvβ3 integrin-ligand binding con firmed that the dehydro-β-amino derivatives are able to act as an electrostatic clamp by establishing several stabilizing interactions with the receptor.