PubMed Health⌕ Search

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Enkephalins”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1984

Demonstration and characterization of immunoreactive methionine-enkephalin, leucine-enkephalin, methionine-enkephalin-Arg6-Gly7-Leu8 and methionine-enkephalin-Arg6-Phe7 in human phaeochromocytoma.

To elucidate whether or not human phaeochromocytoma contains methionine-enkephalin-Arg6-Gly7-Leu8 (Met-enkephalin-Arg-Gly-Leu) and methionine-enkephalin-Arg6-Phe7 (Met-enkephalin-Arg-Phe) together with methionine-enkephalin (Met-enkephalin) and leucine-enkephalin (Leu-enkephalin), all of which are known to exist in the same precursor molecule (preproenkephalin A), we examined extracts from 16 phaeochromocytomas using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gel exclusion chromatography coupled with radioimmunoassays (RIAs) for these four opioid peptides. Met-enkephalin-Arg-Gly-Leu-like immunoreactivity (-LI) and Met-enkephalin-Arg-Phe-LI existed together with Met-enkephalin-LI and Leu-enkephalin-LI in 16 phaeochromocytomas. There was a wide variation in contents of Met-enkephalin-LI, Leu-enkephalin-LI, Met-enkephalin-Arg-Gly-Leu-LI and Met-enkephalin-Arg-Phe-LI. Significant positive correlations were observed among the contents of these four opioid peptides in 16 phaeochromocytomas. HPLC and gel exclusion chromatography followed by the RIAs showed the presence of Met-enkephalin, Leu-enkephalin, Met-enkephalin-Arg-Gly-Leu and Met-enkephalin-Arg-Phe together with their high molecular weight forms, which existed in variable amounts. Molar ratios of the contents of these four opioid peptides determined after HPLC varies from case to case. These results indicate the co-existence of Met-enkephalin, Leu-enkephalin, Met-enkephalin-Arg-Gly-Leu and Met-enkephalin-Arg-Phe in human phaeochromocytomas, suggesting the preservation of amino acid sequences of these four opioid peptides even in neoplastic tissues.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Methionine-enkephalin, leucine-enkephalin methionine-enkephalin-Arg6-Phe7 and methionine-enkephalin-Arg6-Gly7-Leu8 in human pheochromocytoma.

Methionine-enkephalin(met-enkephalin)-, leucine-enkephalin(leu-enkephalin)-, methionine-enkephalin-Arg6-Phe7(met-enkephalin-Arg-Phe)- and methionine-enkephalin-Arg6-Gly7-Leu8(met-enkephalin-Arg-Gly-Leu)-like immunoreactivities(-LI) were studied in 16 pheochromocytomas by radioimmunoassays (RIAs) for these four opioid peptides. Met-enkephalin-Arg-Phe-LI and met-enkephalin-Arg-Gly-Leu-LI existed together with met-enkephalin-LI and leu-enkephalin-LI in 16 pheochromocytomas. Significant positive correlations were observed among contents of these four opioid peptides in 16 pheochromocytomas. The concentrations of these four opioid peptides in epinephrine producing pheochromocytomas were much higher than those in norepinephrine producing tumors. HPLC and gel exclusion chromatography followed by the RIAs showed the presence of met-enkephalin, leu-enkephalin, met-enkephalin-Arg-Phe and met-enkephalin-Arg-Gly-Leu together with their high molecular weight forms. These results indicate the co-existence of met-enkephalin, leu-enkephalin, met-enkephalin-Arg-Phe, met-enkephalin-Arg-Gly-Leu and their high molecular weight forms derived from preproenkephalin A in human pheochromocytomas and suggest the association of preproenkephalin A synthesis with epinephrine production in human pheochromocytomas.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Immunohistochemical localization of Met-enkephalin, Met-enkephalin-Arg6-Gly7-Leu8, Met-enkephalin-Arg6-Phe7 and Leu-enkephalin in human adrenal medulla and pheochromocytomas.

Immunohistochemical localization of Met-enkephalin, Met-enkephalin-Arg6-Gly7-Leu8, Met-enkephalin-Arg6-Phe7 and Leu-enkephalin was studied in human adrenal medulla and pheochromocytomas at the light and electron microscopic levels. Both adrenal medulla and pheochromocytomas (4 adrenal, 1 extra-adrenal) showed scattered or clustered cells which contained all of the above peptides and suggested the production of proenkephalin A. The presence of these peptides predominantly in the secretory granules suggested that proenkephalin A is processed to final products mainly in the secretory granules. The localization of Met-enkephalin-Arg6-Gly7-Leu8 and Met-enkephalin-Arg6-Phe7 in cisternae of rough endoplasmic reticula indicated their actual production in pheochromocytomas.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗
PubMed1983

Parallel distribution of methionine-enkephalin-Arg6-Gly7-Leu8 with methionine-enkephalin, leucine-enkephalin and methionine-enkephalin-Arg6-Phe7 in human and bovine brains.

Using specific radioimmunoassays(RIAs) for methionine-enkephalin(Met-Enk), leucine-enkephalin(Leu-Enk), methionine-enkephalin-Arg6-Gly7-Leu8 (Met-Enk-Arg-Gly-Leu) and methionine-enkephalin-Arg6-Phe7 (Met-Enk-Arg-Phe), we studied the regional distribution of these opioid peptides in human and bovine brains. Met-Enk-Arg-Gly-Leu was distributed in parallel with Met-Enk, Leu-Enk and Met-Enk-Arg-Phe in human and bovine brains. The ratios of molar concentrations of these peptides are almost constant in various regions of human and bovine brains and similar to the ratio of these peptides contained in preproenkephalin A. Gel exclusion chromatography and HPLC coupled with respective RIAs showed the existence of authentic peptides without any detectable high molecular weight forms. These results indicate the parallel distribution of Met-Enk-Arg-Gly-Leu with Met-Enk, Leu-Enk and Met-Enk-Arg-Phe in various regions of human and bovine brains and further suggest that these opioid peptides are derived from the same precursor as that in the adrenal medulla and that the processing of preproenkephalin A is almost complete in human and bovine brains.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Met-enkephalin-Arg6-Gly7-Leu8 exists together with Met-enkephalin-Arg6-Phe7, Met-enkephalin and Leu-enkephalin in human stomach.

Studies on the nucleotide sequence of cloned DNA complementary to mRNA for preproenkephalin A from adrenal medulla and human pheochromocytoma have revealed that this precursor contains 4 copies of methionine-enkephalin(Met-Enk) and one copy each of leu-enkephalin (Leu-Enk), methionine-enkephalin-Arg6-Gly7-Leu8(Met-Enk-Arg6-Gly7-Leu8) and methionine-enkephalin-Arg6-Phe7(Met-Enk-Arg6-Phe7). We have demonstrated the existence of Met-Enk-Arg6-Gly7-Leu8 together with Met-Enk, Leu-Enk and Met-Enk-Arg6-Phe7 in human gastric antrum, using high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) coupled with radioimmunoassays for these opioid peptides. The ratio of molar concentrations of these peptides in human gastric antrum is almost equal to the ratio of these peptides contained in preproenkephalin A. Furthermore, gel filtration studies on Sephadex G-50 showed that most of immunoreactivities of these peptides were eluted at the elution position of each synthetic peptide without any detectable immunoreactivities at high molecular weight positions. In addition, most of immunoreactivities of these four opioid peptides were detected in the muscular layer of the gastric antrum. These results indicate the presence of Met-Enk-Arg6-Gly7-Leu8 together with Met-Enk, Leu-Enk, and Met-Enk-Arg6-Phe7 in human gastric antrum and further suggest that these opioid peptides are derived from the same precursor as preproenkephalin A in the adrenal medulla and the processing of preproenkephalin A is almost completed in the human stomach.

Chromatography, Gel↗
PubMed1983

Occurrence of methionine-enkephalin-Arg6-Gly7-Leu8 with methionine-enkephalin, leucine-enkephalin and methionine-enkephalin-Arg6-Phe7 in human gastric antrum.

Recent studies on the nucleotide sequence of cloned DNA complementary to mRNA for preproenkephalin from bovine adrenal medulla and human pheochromocytoma have revealed that this precursor molecule contains four copies of methionine-enkephalin (Met-Enk) and one copy each of leucine-enkephalin (Leu-Enk), methionine-enkephalin-Arg6-Gly7-Leu8 (Met-Enk-Arg6-Gly7-Leu8) and methionine-enkephalin-Arg6-Phe7 (Met-Enk-Arg6-Phe7). We have demonstrated the existence of Met-Enk-Arg6-Gly7-Leu8 together with Met-Enk, Leu-Enk and Met-Enk-Arg6-Phe7 in human gastric antrum, using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with radioimmunoassays for these opioid peptides. The ratio of molar concentrations of these peptides in human gastric antrum is similar to the ratio of these peptides contained in preproenkephalin. Furthermore, gel filtration studies on Sephadex G-50 showed that most of immunoreactivities of these peptides were eluted at the elution position of each synthetic peptide without any detectable immunoreactivities at high molecular weight positions. These results indicate the presence of Met-Enk-Arg6-Gly7-Leu8 together with Met-Enk, Leu-Enk and Met-Enk-Arg6-Phe7 in human gastric antrum and further suggest that these opioid peptides are derived from the same preproenkephalin as that in the adrenal medulla and that the processing of preproenkephalin is almost complete in the gut.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Interaction of enkephalins and des-tyrosyl-enkephalins with synaptosomal plasma membrane vesicles: enkephalin binding and inhibition of proline transport.

Leucine- and methionine-enkephalins inhibit the Na+-dependent transport of proline into plasma membrane vesicles derived from synaptosomes. Glycine transport is weakly inhibited by enkephalins whereas there is no inhibition of transport of glutamic acid, aspartic acid, or gamma-aminobutyric acid. The inhibition of proline uptake is observed with des-tyrosyl-enkephalins but not with morphine, dynorphin(1-13), or beta-endorphins. Furthermore, enkephalin-induced inhibition of proline transport is not antagonized by naloxone. [Leu]enkephalinamide and modified [Leu]enkephalins with greater selectivity for the delta-subclass of enkephalin binding sites are less effective than [Leu]enkephalin in the inhibition of proline transport. Specific binding of [3H]Leu-enkephalin to the plasma membrane vesicles is demonstrated, and des-Tyr-[Leu]enkephalin competes with Leu-enkephalin for [Leu]enkephalin binding sites. The similarity in the concentrations of des-Tyr-[Leu]enkephalin required to compete for specific [Leu]enkephalin binding and to inhibit proline transport suggests that a specific subclass of enkephalin binding sites, distinguished by their recognition of both the enkephalins and their des-tyrosyl derivatives, may be associated with the synaptic proline transport system.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1998

Immunocytochemical localization of enkephalins in the brain of the African lungfish, Protopterus annectens, provides evidence for differential distribution of Met-enkephalin and Leu-enkephalin.

The distribution of various opioid peptides derived from proenkephalin A and B was studied in the brain of the African lungfish Protopterus annectens by using a series of antibodies directed against mammalian opioid peptides. The results show that both Metenkephalin- and Leu-enkephalin-immunoreactive peptides are present in the lungfish brain. In contrast, enkephalin forms similar to Met-enkephalin-Arg-Phe, or Met-enkephalin-Arg-Gly-Leu, as well as mammalian alpha-neoendrophin, dynorphin A (1-8), dynorphin A (1-13), or dynorphin A (1-17) were not detected. In all major subdivisions of the brain, the overwhelming majority of Met-enkephalin- and Leu-enkephalin-immunoreactive cells were distinct. In particular, cell bodies reacting only with Leu-enkephalin antibodies were detected in the medial subpallium of the telencephalon, the griseum centrale, the reticular formation, the nucleus of the solitary tract, and the visceral sensory area of the rhombencephalon. Cell bodies reacting only with Met-enkephalin antibodies were found in the lateral subpallium of the telencephalon, the caudal hypothalamus, and the tegmentum of the mesencephalon. The preoptic periventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus exhibited a high density of Metenkephalin-immunoreactive neurons and only a few Leu-enkephalin-immunoreactive neurons. The distribution of Met-enkephalin- and Leu-enkephalin-immunoreactive cell bodies and fibers in the lungfish brain showed similarities to the distribution of proenkephalin A-derived peptides described previously in the brain of land vertebrates. The presence of Met-enkephalin- and Leu-enkephalin-like peptides in distinct regions, together with the absence of dynorphin-related peptides, suggests that, in the lungfish, Met-enkephalin and Leu-enkephalin may originate from distinct precursors.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Distribution of enkephalin-related peptides in rat brain: immunohistochemical studies using antisera to met-enkephalin and met-enkephalin Arg6Phe7.

The enkephalin-related heptapeptide, Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Met-Arg-Phe, forms the C-terminus of a biosynthetic precursor that contains both Met-enkephalin and Leu-enkephalin sequences. We have studied the distribution of heptapeptide-like immunoreactivity in rat brain by immunohistochemistry using a C-terminal specific antiserum. The results were compared with those obtained using an antiserum specific for the C-terminus of Met-enkephalin which does not react with C-terminally-extended variants. Both antisera specifically stained cell bodies and fibres in many regions of the rat central nervous system. Colchicine was needed for the demonstration of cell bodies with the Met-enkephalin antiserum, but not for the heptapeptide antiserum. In the nucleus of the solitary tract, in the commissural nucleus, the nucleus raphe obscurus and in the hypothalamus, studies of serial sections and re-staining experiments indicated that the two antisera stained the same cell bodies. However, in the olfactory bulb, the anterior olfactory nucleus, the olfactory tubercle, the nucleus accumbens, caudate-putamen, central nucleus of the amygdala, nucleus interstitialis striae terminalis, pre-lateral mamillary nuclei, ventral hypothalamus, hippocampus, peri-aqueductal grey and the granular layer of the cerebellum, cells were stained by the heptapeptide antiserum but not the Met-enkephalin antiserum. The two antisera revealed similar patterns of staining of nerve fibres in many regions including hypothalamus, central nucleus of the amygdala, lateral septum, thalamus, mid-brain and spinal cord. But in other areas notably, pallidum, caudate-putamen, substantia inominata, nucleus of the solitary tract and commissural nucleus, there were abundant fibres and terminals revealed by the Met-enkephalin antiserum but not by the heptapeptide antiserum. The results are discussed with respect to possible patterns of enkephalin biosynthesis; it is suggested that in some neurones immunoreactive enkephalin precursors terminating in the heptapeptide sequence are processed to produce the heptapeptide which is stored in terminals and is available for release as an endogenous opioid agonist in its own right. In other cases, however, it is suggested that the heptapeptide might be cleaved by removal of -Arg-Phe to yield Met-enkephalin which is the primary opioid product of this class of neurone.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Use of methionine-enkephalin sulfoxide and leucine-enkephalin radio-immunoassays for the measurement of enkephalins in the rat brain.

1. A radio-immunoassay (RIA) for methionine-enkephalin sulfoxide was developed and was used to measure methionine-enkephalin, after oxidation, in the rat brain. 2. The RIA was performed together with assays that use commercially available met- and leu-enkephalin antisera. 3. Evidence is presented here indicating that antisera raised against the native met-enkephalin peptide underestimate met-enkephalin content due to loss of immunoreactivity after oxidation of peptide. 4. These results show that a more accurate measurement of met-enkephalin may be obtained by using the met-enkephalin sulfoxide RIA. The cross-reactivity of met-enkephalin with the leu-enkephalin RIA was diminished following oxidation of peptide.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Occurrence of met-enkephalin, met-enkephalin-Arg6-Phe7 and met-enkephalin-Arg6-Gly7-Leu8 in gastrin cells of hog antral mucosa.

Region-specific antisera to three enkephalins: met-enkephalin, met-enkephalin-Arg6-Phe7 and met-enkephalin-Arg6-Gly7-Leu8, together with four region specific antisera to progastrin: C-terminal G17 specific, N-terminal G34 specific, cryptic peptides A- and B-specific, were used in immunohistochemical studies of hog antral mucosa. A sub-population (6-10%) of the gastrin-containing endocrine cells (G-cells) was found to react with antisera to met-enkephalin, met-enkephalin-Arg6-Phe7 and met-enkephalin-Arg6-Gly7-Leu8. About 30% of all the enkephalin-containing cells were identified as G-cells. The results indicate that a fraction of G-cells produces both enkephalin-like peptides and gastrin.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Synaptosomal membrane-bound form of endopeptidase-24.15 generates Leu-enkephalin from dynorphin1-8, alpha- and beta-neoendorphin, and Met-enkephalin from Met-enkephalin-Arg6-Gly7-Leu8.

Brain contains a membrane-bound form of endopeptidase-24.15, a metalloendopeptidase predominantly associated with the soluble protein fraction of brain homogenates. Subcellular fractionation of the enzyme in rat brain showed that 20-25% of the total activity is associated with membrane fractions including synaptosomes. Solubilization of the enzyme from synaptosomal membranes required the use of detergents or treatment with trypsin. The specific activity of the enzyme in synaptosomal membranes measured with tertiary-butoxycarbonyl-Phe-Ala-Ala-Phe-p-aminobenzoate as substrate was higher than that of endopeptidase-24.11 ("enkephalinase"), a membrane-bound zinc-metalloendopeptidase believed to function in brain neuropeptide metabolism. Purified synaptosomal membranes converted efficiently dynorphin1-8, alpha- and beta-neoendorphin into leucine enkephalin and methionine-enkephalin-Arg6-Gly7-Leu8 into methionine enkephalin in the presence of captopril, bestatin, and N-[1-(R,S)-carboxy-2-phenylethyl]-Phe-p-aminobenzoate, inhibitors of angiotensin converting enzyme (EC 3.4.15.1), aminopeptidase (EC 3.4.11.2), and membrane-bound metalloendopeptidase (EC 3.4.24.11), respectively. The conversion of enkephalin-containing peptides into enkephalins was virtually completely inhibited by N-[1-(R,S)-carboxy-2-phenylethyl]-Ala-Ala-Phe-p-aminobenzoate, a specific active-site-directed inhibitor of endopeptidase-24.15, indicating that this enzyme was responsible for the observed interconversions. The data indicate that synaptosomal membranes contain enzymes that can potentially generate and degrade both leucine- and methionine-enkephalin.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Dehydro-enkephalins. VI. Dehydroalanine3-enkephalin: a potent enkephalin analog for the delta opiate receptor.

The Gly3 residue in Gly2- and D-Ala2-enkephalins has been replaced by delta Ala3 and Ser3 in order to examine the effect on binding to the delta and mu opiate receptors. [D-Ala2, delta Ala3, Leu5]-enkephalin maintains most of its receptor binding affinities for both sites. It is suggested that the proper conjunctions of positions 2 and 3 of the enkephalin sequence are important to receptor preference and that position 3 may have a very specific interaction with the delta receptor. The in vivo analgesic and CNS activities of the peptides are also discussed.

Analgesia↗
PubMed1984

Two peptidases that convert 125I-Lys-Arg-(Met)enkephalin and 125I-(Met)enkephalin-Arg6, respectively, to 125I-(Met)enkephalin in bovine adrenal medullary chromaffin granules.

Two peptidases which convert 125I-Lys-Arg-ME and 125I-ME-Arg6, respectively, to 125I-ME, have been identified and characterized in bovine adrenomedullary chromaffin granules. The former is referred to as a secretory granule peptidase (SGP) and the latter as a carboxypeptidase B-like enzyme (CPB-like) [7] which is here further characterized. SGP cleaved 125I-Lys-Arg-ME to produce only 125I-ME and was localized in chromaffin granules which contained Co2+-stimulated CPB-like activity, ME, and catecholamines. Both the SGP and the CPB-like enzymes appear to be thiol-metalloproteases. While the CPB-like enzyme seems likely to be involved in processing the enkephalin precursors [7], SGP may function as a trypsin-like or aminopeptidase enzyme in secretory granules.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Plasma methionine-enkephalin and leucine-enkephalin in normal subjects and patients with pheochromocytoma.

Plasma methionine-enkephalin-like and leucine-enkephalin-like immunoreactivity (met-enkephalin-LI and leu-enkephalin-LI, respectively) in six normal subjects and six patients with pheochromocytoma were determined. The contents of met-enkephalin-LI and leu-enkephalin-LI in two of six pheochromocytomas were 40- to 50-fold higher and those in the other four pheochromocytomas were less than those in normal human adrenal medulla. The former two patients showed high plasma met-enkephalin-LI and leu-enkephalin-LI levels. As plasma catecholamines levels returned to the normal range after extirpation of tumors, met-enkephalin-LI and leu-enkephalin-LI in plasma became undetectable in these patients. In contrast, neither met-enkephalin-LI nor leu-enkephalin-LI was detected in plasma from the latter four patients. Met-enkephalin-LI and leu-enkephalin-LI concentrations were higher in the adrenal vein than in the peripheral vein in three patients. Plasma met-enkephalin-LI and leu-enkephalin-LI increased concomitantly with catecholamines after glucagon stimulation and during a spontaneous attack in a patient with pheochromocytoma. Plasma met-enkephalin-LI changed in parallel with leu-enkephalin-LI in all cases. High performance liquid chromatography coupled with RIAs has shown that met-enkephalin and leu-enkephalin circulate in plasma from a patient with pheochromocytoma as intact pentapeptides. None of normal subjects showed detectable concentrations of met-enkephalin-LI and leu-enkephalin-LI in plasma (more than 5 pg/ml and 3 pg/ml, respectively). It is concluded that met-enkephalin and leu-enkephalin are released concomitantly with catecholamines from pheochromocytomas.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗