Conversion and inactivation of opioid peptides by rabbit brain endo-oligopeptidase A

The conversion of BAM-12P to Met-enkephalin and the hydrolysis of the Phe-Met and Phe-Leu bonds of met-enkephalin-Arg-Phe and Leu-enkephalin-Arg-Arg, respectively, by rabbit brain endo-oligopeptidase A were demonstrated. Peptide fragments were isolated by high performance liquid chromatography and identified by amino acid analysis. BAM 22P was not hydrolysed by the enzyme. The concentration dependent inhibition of BAM-12P conversion into Met-enkephalin by bradykinin and vice-versa provided additional evidence that endo-oligopeptidase A cleaves both the Phe5-Ser6 bond in bradykinin and the Met5-Arg6 bond of BAM-12P.