Kd: 65 pM (HGF)
Dihexa binds with high affinity to HGF and both dihexa and its parent compound Norleucine 1-AngIV induce c-Met phosphorylation in the presence of subthreshold concentrations of HGF and augment HGF-dependent cell scattering. Further, dihexa and Nle1-AngIV induce hippocampal spinogenesis and synaptogenesis similar to HGF itself. Dihexa effectively inhibits HGF dimerization at 1 μM. While dihexa at 1 nM and 10 pM alone does not activate c-Met, it markedly augments the capacity of HGF at 1.25 and 2.5 ng/mL to activate c-Met.
Dihexa has a long circulating half-life. Dihexa exhibits procognitive activity. Dihexa reverses scopolamine-dependent spatial learning deficits. It improves spatial learning in aged rats. Dihexa induces spinogenesis in cultured hippocampal neurons.