The 3D NMR structures of six octapeptide agonist analogues of somatostatin (SRIF) in the free form aredescribed. These analogues, with the basic sequence H-
DPhe/Phe
2-c[Cys
3-Xxx
7-
DTrp
8-Lys
9-Thr
10-Cys
14]-Thr-NH
2 (the numbering refers to the position in native SRIF), with Xxx
7 being Ala/Aph, exhibit potentand highly selective binding to human SRIF type 2 (sst
2) receptors. The backbone of these sst
2-selectiveanalogues have the usual type-II'
![](/images/gifchars/beta2.gif)
-turn reported in the literature for sst
2/3/5-subtype-selective analogues.Correlating the biological results and NMR studies led to the identification of the side chains of
DPhe
2,
DTrp
8, and Lys
9 as the necessary components of the sst
2 pharmacophore. This is the first study to show thatthe aromatic ring at position 7 (Phe
7) is not critical for sst
2 binding and that it plays an important role in sst
3and sst
5 binding. This pharmacophore is, therefore, different from that proposed by others for sst
2/3/5 analogues.