Affinity resins for the purification of opioid-binding materials

Two new affinity resins for the purification of opioid-binding materials were prepared. One was AH-Sepharose coupled with [D-Ala2, D-Leu5]enkephalin and the other was AF-Amino Toyopearl with [D-Ala2, Leu5]enkephalin. Solubilized-opioid receptors from rat brain were treated with these affinity resins and the materials with opioid-binding activities were purified. On sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the purified materials showed one major band with a molecular weight of 62000-64000. The results suggested that the prepared resins are useful tools for the purification of opioid receptors.