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Enkephalin regulates the levels of cyclic nucleotides in neuroblastoma × glioma hybrid cells

Nature volume 262, pages 311–313 (1976)Cite this article

Abstract

NARCOTICS do not normally occur in vivo. “Opiate receptors” must therefore have evolved to recognise endogenous ligands, which are mimicked by the opiates1. Indeed such compounds have been isolated2–5 and their structure elucidated as that of the two pentapeptides leucine and methionine-enkephalin6. Neuroblastoma × glioma hybrid cells 108CC15 display many properties characteristic of neurones7. In these cells morphine and other narcotics8–10 prevent the increase in the level of cyclic AMP that is caused by prostaglandin E1(PGE1)11. The opiates also increase the level of cyclic GMP in the hybrid cells12. On long term incubation with morphine, the hybrid cells show phenomena which can be interpreted as biochemical correlates of morphine tolerance, dependenceand withdrawal9,13. Here we report that leucine-enkephalin (leu-enk) has effects like those of opiates on the hybrid cells.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Enzyme Chemistry and Metabolism, Max-Planck-Institut für Biochemie, 8033, Martinsried, FRG

    MICHAEL BRANDT, ROBERT J. GULLIS, KARIN FISCHER, CLAUDIA BUCHEN & BERND HAMPRECHT

  2. Department of Peptide Chemistry, Max-Planck-Institut für Biochemie, 8033, Martinsried, FRG

    Luis MORÖDER & ERICH WÜNSCH

Authors
  1. MICHAEL BRANDT
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  2. ROBERT J. GULLIS
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BRANDT, M., GULLIS, R., FISCHER, K. et al. Enkephalin regulates the levels of cyclic nucleotides in neuroblastoma × glioma hybrid cells. Nature 262, 311–313 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1038/262311a0

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