In vivo effects of lamprey GnRH-I and cyclized analogs: a structure-activity study.

Lamprey GnRH-I and lamprey GnRH-III are the only two members of the GnRH family to have substitutions in the sixth position, Glu6 and Asp6, respectively; all other GnRH peptides have Gly in the sixth position suggesting a different conformational structure. Thus, a structure-activity study of lamprey GnRH-I or analogs that were cyclized or with sixth position substitutions were determined in vivo in adult female sea lamprey, Petromyzon marinus. The following analogs which were tested, ([D-Glu6]-GnRH-I; cyclo-[D-Glu6-Trp7-Lys8]-GnRH-I; or cyclo-[Glu6-Trp7-Lys8]-GnRH-I), significantly elevated plasma estradiol compared to controls. However, [D-Glu6]-lamprey GnRH-I was the only analog to significantly stimulate ovulation while another analog [Gly6]-lamprey GnRH-I significantly delayed ovulation. These data suggest that the sixth position of lamprey GnRH is critical for function.