Abstract
The activation of cannabinoid CB(1) receptors (CB(1)R) by Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main component of Cannabis sativa, induces analgesia. CB(1)R activation, however, also causes cognitive impairment via the serotonin 5HT(2A) receptor (5HT(2A)R), a component of a CB(1)R-5HT(2A)R heteromer, posing a serious drawback for cannabinoid therapeutic use. We have shown that peptides reproducing CB(1)R transmembrane (TM) helices 5 and 6, fused to a cell-penetrating sequence (CPP), can alter the structure of the CB(1)R-5HT(2A)R heteromer and avert THC cognitive impairment while preserving analgesia. Here, we report the optimization of these prototypes into drug-like leads by (i) shortening the TM5, TM6, and CPP sequences, without losing the ability to disturb the CB(1)R-5HT(2A)R heteromer, and (ii) extensive sequence remodeling to achieve protease resistance and blood-brain barrier penetration. Our efforts have culminated in the identification of an ideal candidate for cannabis-based pain management, an orally active 16-residue peptide preserving THC-induced analgesia.