RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Characterization of an Endogenous Morphine-like Factor (Enkephalin) in Mammalian Brain
JF Molecular Pharmacology
JO Mol Pharmacol
FD American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
SP 504
OP 513
VO 12
IS 3
A1 GAVRIL W. PASTERNAK
A1 RABI SIMANTOV
A1 SOLOMON H. SNYDER
YR 1976
UL http://molpharm.aspetjournals.org/content/12/3/504.abstract
AB Mammalian brain extracts contain a substance, "enkephalin," which competes for opiate receptor binding in a highly selective fashion. This material behaves in opiate receptor assays as an opiate agonist, with its effects enhanced by manganese and decreased by sodium. The regional distribution of enkephalin parallels that of the opiate receptor itself. Enkephalin activity is degraded by carboxypeptidases A and B and leucinaminopeptidase as well as by chymotrypsin, but is resistant to trypsin and neuraminidase. Thus enkephalin appears to be a peptide. Gel filtration experiments indicate a molecular weight of about 1000.