Biomaterial Database

Conversion of the dynorphins to Leu-enkephalin in human spinal cord. 1990

F Nyberg, and J Silberring

Department of Pharmacology, University of Uppsala, Sweden.

This study describes three different endopeptidases in human spinal cord with high affinity for the dynorphins. The enzymes, with strict specificity towards paired basic residues, release Leu-enkephalin and its C-terminal extensions - Arg6 and -Arg6 -Arg7 from the substrate peptides. They differ with regard to molecular size, charge properties, and inhibitory profile. Two of the enzymes show optimal activity at neutral pH, whereas the third enzyme has its activity optimum at pH 5.6. They are all suggested to be of importance for the formation of Leu-enkephalin from prodynorphin.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008969	Molecular Sequence Data	Descriptions of specific amino acid, carbohydrate, or nucleotide sequences which have appeared in the published literature and/or are deposited in and maintained by databanks such as GENBANK, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), National Biomedical Research Foundation (NBRF), or other sequence repositories.	Sequence Data, Molecular,Molecular Sequencing Data,Data, Molecular Sequence,Data, Molecular Sequencing,Sequencing Data, Molecular
D008970	Molecular Weight	The sum of the weight of all the atoms in a molecule.	Molecular Weights,Weight, Molecular,Weights, Molecular
D011498	Protein Precursors		Precursors, Protein
D004399	Dynorphins	A class of opioid peptides including dynorphin A, dynorphin B, and smaller fragments of these peptides. Dynorphins prefer kappa-opioid receptors (RECEPTORS, OPIOID, KAPPA) and have been shown to play a role as central nervous system transmitters.	Dynorphin,Dynorphin (1-17),Dynorphin A,Dynorphin A (1-17)
D004743	Enkephalin, Leucine	One of the endogenous pentapeptides with morphine-like activity. It differs from MET-ENKEPHALIN in the LEUCINE at position 5. Its first four amino acid sequence is identical to the tetrapeptide sequence at the N-terminal of BETA-ENDORPHIN.	Leucine Enkephalin,5-Leucine Enkephalin,Leu(5)-Enkephalin,Leu-Enkephalin,5 Leucine Enkephalin,Enkephalin, 5-Leucine,Leu Enkephalin
D004745	Enkephalins	One of the three major families of endogenous opioid peptides. The enkephalins are pentapeptides that are widespread in the central and peripheral nervous systems and in the adrenal medulla.	Enkephalin
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D006863	Hydrogen-Ion Concentration	The normality of a solution with respect to HYDROGEN ions; H+. It is related to acidity measurements in most cases by pH	pH,Concentration, Hydrogen-Ion,Concentrations, Hydrogen-Ion,Hydrogen Ion Concentration,Hydrogen-Ion Concentrations
D000595	Amino Acid Sequence	The order of amino acids as they occur in a polypeptide chain. This is referred to as the primary structure of proteins. It is of fundamental importance in determining PROTEIN CONFORMATION.	Protein Structure, Primary,Amino Acid Sequences,Sequence, Amino Acid,Sequences, Amino Acid,Primary Protein Structure,Primary Protein Structures,Protein Structures, Primary,Structure, Primary Protein,Structures, Primary Protein