Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Peptides with morphine-like action in the brain.

H W Kosterlitz, J Hughes

    The British Journal of Psychiatry : the Journal of Mental Science
    |March 1, 1977
    PubMed
    Summary

    Researchers discovered endogenous opioid peptides, methionine-enkephalin and leucine-enkephalin, in the brain. These peptides, including endorphins, mimic morphine's effects and may play roles in neurotransmission and opiate dependence.

    Related Concept Videos

    You might also read

    Related Articles

    Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

    Sort by
    Same author

    Assay of the biological value of a protein by its effect on liver cytoplasm.

    Nature·2010
    Same author

    Dietary protein and histological structure of liver tissue.

    The Journal of physiology·2010
    Same author

    The effects of changes in dietary protein on the composition and structure of the liver cell.

    The Journal of physiology·2010
    Same author

    Ribonucleic acid as a constituent of labile liver cytoplasm.

    The Journal of physiology·2010
    Same author

    A new example of a morphine-sensitive neuro-effector junction: adrenergic transmission in the mouse vas deferens. 1972.

    British journal of pharmacology·1997
    Same author

    The distribution of methionine-enkephalin and leucine-enkephalin in the brain and peripheral tissues. 1977.

    British journal of pharmacology·1997

    Area of Science:

    • Neuroscience
    • Biochemistry
    • Pharmacology

    Background:

    • The search for endogenous substances with morphine-like actions in the brain was initiated.
    • Opiate alkaloids are known for their potent physiological effects.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To identify and characterize naturally occurring compounds in the brain that exhibit morphine-like activity.
    • To explore the physiological significance and therapeutic potential of these endogenous compounds.

    Main Methods:

    • Isolation and characterization of two pentapeptides: methionine-enkephalin and leucine-enkephalin.
    • Analysis of the amino acid sequence of methionine-enkephalin in relation to the pituitary prohormone beta-lipotropin.
    • Investigation of longer fragments (endorphins) derived from beta-lipotropin for morphine-like activity.

    Main Results:

    • Two pentapeptides, methionine-enkephalin and leucine-enkephalin, were successfully isolated from the brain.
    • The amino acid sequence of methionine-enkephalin was found within beta-lipotropin.
    • Longer fragments of beta-lipotropin, termed endorphins, demonstrated significant morphine-like actions.

    Conclusions:

    • Endogenous opioid peptides, including enkephalins and endorphins, are present in the brain and possess morphine-like properties.
    • These peptides may function as neurotransmitters or neuromodulators.
    • The interaction between endogenous opioid peptides and exogenous opiates is crucial for understanding opiate tolerance and dependence, with potential therapeutic implications.

    Related Experiment Videos