Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UNIPROT:P01189 (beta-endorphin)
 21,003 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Placenta secretes corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) into the maternal and fetal circulation, but a CRH binding protein in plasma may decrease its biological activity. Using a charcoal adsorption method we found that 92% of added 125I-Tyr-CRH was bound to a binding protein in the nonpregnant plasma, 72% in the plasma at term pregnancy, 90% in umbilical cord plasma, 82% in the amniotic fluid in the second and 25% in the third trimester. CRH added to plasma inhibited the binding of 125I-Tyr-CRH over the concentration range of 0.1-8.8 nmol/l in plasma and of 0.1-2.2 nmol/l in amniotic fluid. There was a significant negative correlation (R = -0.80) between the binding capacity of the CRH-binding protein and CRH concentration in maternal plasma. Plasma or amniotic fluid was incubated with 125I-Tyr-CRH and subjected to gel filtration on Sephadex G-50. The bound radioactivity was eluted at the region of Mr 25-40 kDa and the unbound radioactivity at the location of synthetic CRH. Bound and unbound CRH concentrations were determined using charcoal adsorption method and gel filtration on Sephadex G-50 in ten maternal plasma samples at the third trimester of pregnancy. Following mean percentages were found to be bound: charcoal method 61.9 +/- 6.80% (SE) and gel filtration 62.8 +/- 6.33%. We conclude that the bulk of CRH is bound to a binding protein in maternal and fetoplacental circulation, whereas at term pregnancy the role of the binding is small in amniotic fluid.
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PMID:Binding of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) in maternal and fetal plasma and in amniotic fluid. 209 79

Water soluble peptides are normally not transported through the brain capillary wall, i.e. the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Chimeric peptides may be transportable through the BBB and are formed by the covalent coupling of a nontransportable peptide, e.g. beta-endorphin, to a transportable peptide vector, e.g. cationized albumin, using disulfide-based coupling reagents such as N-succinimidyl 3-[2-pyridyldithio(propionate)] (SPDP). The transcytosis of peptide into brain parenchyma, as opposed to vascular sequestration of blood-borne peptide, was quantified using an internal carotid artery perfusion/capillary depletion method. It is shown that [125I]beta-endorphin is not transported through the BBB, but is rapidly cleaved to free [125I] tyrosine via capillary peptidase. Therefore, chimeric peptide was prepared using [125I] [D-Ala2]beta-endorphin (DABE), owing to the resistance of this analogue to peptidase degradation. The [125I] DABE-cationized albumin chimeric peptide is shown to enter brain parenchyma at a rate comparable to that reported previously for unconjugated cationized albumin. When the [125I] DABE-cationized albumin chimeric peptide was incubated with rat brain homogenate at 37 C, the free [125I] DABE was liberated from the cationized albumin conjugate prior to its subsequent degradation into free [125I] tyrosine. Approximately 50% of the chimeric peptide was cleaved within 60 sec of incubation at 37 C. These studies demonstrate that 1) [125I]beta-endorphin is not transported through the BBB in its unconjugated form, 2) a [125I] DABE-cationized albumin chimeric peptide is transported through the BBB into brain parenchyma at a rate comparable to the unconjugated cationized albumin, and 3) brain contains the necessary disulfide reductases for rapid cleavage of the chimeric peptide into free beta-endorphin and this cleavage occurs before degradation of the [125I] DABE into [125I] tyrosine.
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PMID:Beta-endorphin chimeric peptides: transport through the blood-brain barrier in vivo and cleavage of disulfide linkage by brain. 213 82

In a modified Krebs buffer at 37 degrees C, the selective mu agonist [3H] D-Ala2,MePhe4,Gly-ol5]enkephalin [( 3H]DAMGO) and the nonselective mu/delta agonist human [125I]beta-endorphin [( 125I]beta-endH) bound to rat striatal membranes with a Kd of about 7 and 5 nM and a Bmax of about 95 and 260 fmol/mg of protein, respectively, consistent with labeling of mu receptors by the former ligand and labeling of both mu and delta receptors by the latter. The binding of 2 nM [125I]beta-endH was displaced by unlabeled DAMGO (IC50 30 nM), [D-Ala2-D-Leu5]enkephalin (IC50 60 nM) as well as by the selective delta agonists [D-Ser2(O-tert-butyl),Leu5]enkephalyl-Thr6 (DSTBULET, IC50 500 nM) and Tyr-Ala-Phe-Asp-Val-Val-Gly-NH2 (IC50 700 nM) in a monophasic manner within 2 to 3 log concentration units, suggesting an allosteric interaction between mu and delta sites labeled by [125I]beta-endH under these conditions. Accordingly, 500 nM DSTBULET caused almost 40% inhibition of the apparent Bmax without changing the apparent Kd of [3H] DAMGO. The kappa agonist U 50,488 was ineffective as competing ligand even at a concentration of 10 microM. Upon affinity cross-linking of [125I]beta-endH (2 nM) to rat striatal mu- and delta-opioid receptors, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the solubilized tissue under reducing conditions followed by autoradiography of the dried gels revealed a major broad band of covalently labeled protein with an apparent molecular weight of 80 kDa.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Cross-linking of human [125I]beta-endorphin to opioid receptors in rat striatal membranes: biochemical evidence for the existence of a mu/delta opioid receptor complex. 215 52

A 100 plaque forming unit (pfu) dose of a temperature-sensitive (ts) mutant of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), tsG31 KS5, engendered a slowly progressive paralytic central nervous system (CNS) disease that killed all BALB/c nude mice within 28 days. Reconstitution of nude mice with 10(7) syngeneic splenocytes 24 h before intracerebral inoculation with tsG31 KS5 VSV, however, protected 92% of the animals from death. When these reconstituted animals were injected intracerebroventricularly with 14 pmol of beta-endorphin 24 h after reconstitution with splenocytes and 24 h before inoculation with tsG31 KS5 VSV, only 72% of the animals survived. Furthermore, whereas 40% of the afflicted reconstituted nude mice given intracerebroventricular injections of sterile water were able to recover from the symptoms of disease, those surviving animals which received beta-endorphin were unable to do so. A single intravenous injection of 14 pmol beta-endorphin, or repeated postinfection administration of 28 pmol of beta-endorphin intravenously into nude mice reconstituted with syngeneic splenocytes, which were pretreated with beta-endorphin, did not alter the course of CNS disease induced by tsG31 KS5 VSV. The effect induced by intracerebroventricular injection of beta-endorphin was antagonized by naloxone, but not by the neuropeptide fragment beta-endorphin-(1-27). A simultaneous intracerebroventricular injection of reconstituted nude mice with 1220 pmol of naloxone and 14 pmol of beta-endorphin resulted in a 89% survival rate, and 33% of the afflicted animals were able to overcome the symptoms of the disease induced by tsG31 KS5 VSV. Intracerebroventricular injection of reconstituted nude mice with 330 pmol of beta-endorphin-(1-27) and 14 pmol of beta-endorphin resulted in a 72% survival rate and the surviving animals were unable to improve appreciably the clinical status of their disease. Injection of reconstituted nude mice with either 1220 pmol of naloxone or 330 pmol of beta-endorphin-(1-27) alone did not alter the course of the CNS disease in any way. A single intracerebroventricular injection of 29 pmol of another psychoactive peptide, [Des-Tyr]-endorphin, 24 h after reconstitution of nude mice with splenocytes and 24 h prior to infection with virus, resulted in 74% survival; and 39% of the afflicted animals were able to recover from the clinical symptoms.
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PMID:Beta-endorphin alters the course of central nervous system disease induced by a temperature-sensitive vesicular stomatitis virus in reconstituted nude mice. 216 Apr 76

Dermorphin, Tyr-DAla-Phe-Gly-Tyr-Pro-Ser-NH2, a potent opioid peptide isolated from amphibian skin, is endowed with outstanding structural and biological features. It has no common structure with mammalian opioid peptides and is a unique example of a peptide, synthesized by an animal cell, which contains a D-amino acid in its native sequence. We have undertaken a complete evaluation of the receptor selectivity of dermorphin, together with the binding characteristics and receptor distribution of [3H]dermorphin in the rat brain. 1. Dermorphin was tested for its relative affinity to mu-, delta- and chi-opioid receptors by determining its potency in displacing the selective mu-receptor ligand [3H]Tyr-DAla-Gly-MePhe-Gly-ol (where Gly-ol = glycinol), the prototypic delta-receptor ligand [3H]Tyr-DPen-Gly-Phe-DPen (where DPen = beta, beta-dimethylcysteine) and the chi ligand [3H]ethylketocyclazocine from rat brain and/or guinea pig cerebellum membrane preparations. Inhibitory constant (Ki) values of dermorphin were 0.7 nM, 62 nM and greater than 5000 nM respectively for mu, delta and chi sites, indicating a selectivity ratio Ki(delta)/Ki(mu) = 88. Under similar conditions, Tyr-DAla-Gly-MePhe-Gly-ol, which is regarded as one of the most selective high-affinity mu-agonist available, exhibited a selectivity ratio of 84. 2. Specific binding properties of tritium-labeled dermorphin (52 Ci/mmol) were characterized in the rat brain. Equilibrium measurements performed over a large range of concentrations revealed a single homogeneous population of high-affinity binding sites (Kd = 0.46 nM; Bmax = 92 fmol/mg membrane protein). 3. Profound differences were observed in the potencies displayed by various selective opiates and opioids ligands in inhibiting the specific binding of [3H]dermorphin. The rank order of potency was in good agreement with that obtained with other mu-selective radiolabeled ligands. 4. Receptor autoradiography in vitro was used to visualize the distribution of [3H]dermorphin binding sites in rat brain. The labeling pattern paralleled that observed using other mu probes. Binding parameters and selectivity profile of [3H]dermorphin on slide-mounted sections were similar to those obtained with membrane homogenates. 5. Finally, intracerebroventricular administration of synthetic dermorphin into mice showed that this peptide is the most potent analgesic known to date, being up to 5 and 670 times more active than beta-endorphin and morphine, respectively. Higher doses induced catalepsy. The overall data collected demonstrate that dermorphin is the first among the naturally occurring peptides to be highly potent and nearly specific super-agonist towards the morphine (mu) receptor.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
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PMID:Characterisation and visualisation of [3H]dermorphin binding to mu opioid receptors in the rat brain. Combined high selectivity and affinity in a natural peptide agonist for the morphine (mu) receptor. 216 61

The present studies were designed to determine what type of opioid receptor, mu or delta, in the spinal cord was involved in beta-endorphin-induced antinociception. The tail-flick response was used as an antinociceptive test. Intrathecal (i.t.) injection of ICI-174,864 [(Allyl)2-Tyr-Aib-Aib-Phe-Leu-OH] (10 micrograms) or ICI-154,129 [(N,N-Bisallyl)-Tyr-Gly-Gly-psi-(CH2S)-Phe-Leu-OH] (20 micrograms), delta-opioid receptor antagonists, but not beta-funaltrexamine (0.025 microgram), a mu-opioid receptor antagonist, antagonized inhibition of the tail-flick response induced by beta-endorphin given i.c.v. However, i.t. injection of the same dose of ICI-174,864, ICI-154,129 or beta-funaltrexamine did not affect inhibition of the tail-flick response induced by morphine given i.c.v. Mice were pretreated i.c.v. with either beta-endorphin (2 micrograms), morphine (2 micrograms) or saline (5 microliters) for 2, 3 or 4 hr (which were times that the tail-flick response was no longer inhibited) and were injected i.t. with various doses of D-Ala2-NMePhe4-Gly-ol-enkephalin (a selective mu-opioid receptor agonist), D-Ala2-D-Leu5-enkephalin (a mu- and delta-opioid receptor agonist) or D-Pen2-D-Pen5-enkephalin (a delta-opioid receptor agonists). The tail-flick response was performed 10 min after i.t. injection. A single i.c.v. pretreatment with beta-endorphin for 2 and 3 hr, but not 4 hr, reduced markedly the inhibition of the tail-flick response induced by D-Pen2-D-Pen5-enkephalin and D-Ala2-DLeu5-enkephalin, but not D-Ala2-NMePhe4-Gly-ol-enkephalin, injected i.t.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Delta but not mu-opioid receptors in the spinal cord are involved in antinociception induced by beta-endorphin given intracerebroventricularly in mice. 216 54

D-Tyr-Ser-Gly-Phe-Leu-Thr (DSLET), beta-endorphin, morphiceptin and morphine were microinjected at 48-h intervals into the amygdala or hippocampus of awake rats in an attempt to identify the opiate receptor types involved in opioid kindling. DSLET, beta-endorphin, morphiceptin and morphine were injected into the lateral ventricle to assess the possibility of kindling seizures by this route. The delta-receptor agonist DSLET effectively kindled convulsions when microinjected into amygdala or ventral hippocampus. The convulsions were suppressed or strongly attenuated by ICI 174,864, a specific antagonist of the delta-receptor, microinjected into the same brain site, but were not affected by ICI 174,864 administered peripherally. When microinjected into amygdala or hippocampus, beta-endorphin and morphiceptin also kindled convulsions, which were antagonized by naloxone but not by ICI 174,864. Morphine evoked EEG epileptiform activity but did not kindle convulsions from limbic brain sites. DSLET occasionally evoked epileptiform spiking and submaximal convulsions when injected into ventricle, and morphiceptin evoked epileptiform spiking only, but tolerance to these effects occurred after repetition of the injections. Thus, convulsions can be kindled by activation of either mu-, delta- or epsilon-receptors when opioids are injected directly into limbic tissue. However, the ability of these compounds to kindle seizures is markedly reduced when they are administered into ventricle. The striking differences between the present results and previous results obtained by peripheral or intraventricular administration of opioid peptides suggest that the route of administration, among other variables, is a crucial factor in assessing the epileptogenic properties of opioid peptides.
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PMID:Involvement of multiple opiate receptors in opioid kindling. 216 33

1. The plasma levels of L-tryptophan (L-TRP) and the sum of five competing amino acids (CAA) namely tyrosine, phenylalanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, were determined in 79 depressed females categorized according to the DSM-III. 2. In these patients the authors measured several parameters known to affect the availability of the above amino acids, i.e. triidothyronine (FT3) and thyroxine (FT4), vanilylmandelic acid (VMA), noradrenaline and adrenaline in 24 hr urine, the sex hormonal and nutritional state. 3. The 1 mg dexamethasone suppression test was performed and the pre and postdexamethasone cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) levels were determined at 8 a.m. 4. L-TRP and the ratio L-TRP/CAA were significantly lower in severely depressed females (296.X3, 296.X4) as compared with minor (300.40, 309.00) and simple major depressives (296.X2). The ratio L-TRP/CAA performed well as a clinical tool separating melancholic from minor depression. 5. FT3, FT4, VMA and noradrenaline were significantly increased in the severely depressed females, but these data did not correlate with the availability of L-TRP. Neither baseline cortisol nor the sex hormonal, nor the nutritional state related to the L-TRP data. The ratio L-TRP/CAA was significantly and negatively correlated with the postdexamethasone cortisol and ACTH values.
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PMID:The decreased availability of L-tryptophan in depressed females: clinical and biological correlates. 217 60

We have constructed a vast library of peptides for finding compounds that bind to antibodies and other receptors. Millions of different hexapeptides were expressed at the N terminus of the adsorption protein (pIII) of fd phage. The vector fAFF1, derived from the tetracycline resistance-transducing vector fd-tet, allows cloning of oligonucleotides in a variety of locations in the 5' region of gene III. A library of 3 x 10(8) recombinants was generated by cloning randomly synthesized oligonucleotides. The library was screened for high-avidity binding to a monoclonal antibody (3-E7) that is specific for the N terminus of beta-endorphin (Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe). Fifty-one clones selected by three rounds of the affinity purification technique called panning were sequenced and found to differ from previously known ligands for this antibody. The striking finding is that all 51 contained tyrosine as the N-terminal residue and that 48 contained glycine as the second residue. The binding affinities of six chemically synthesized hexapeptides from this set range from 0.35 microM (Tyr-Gly-Phe-Trp-Gly-Met) to 8.3 microM (Tyr-Ala-Gly-Phe-Ala-Gln), compared with 7.1 nM for a known high-affinity ligand (Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Leu). These results show that ligands can be identified with no prior information concerning antibody specificity. Peptide libraries are also likely to be useful in finding ligands that bind to other classes of receptors and in discovering pharmacologic agents.
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PMID:Peptides on phage: a vast library of peptides for identifying ligands. 220 Oct 29

The amino-terminal fragment of beta-lipotropin (i.e. beta-lipotropin (1-40)) and joining peptide portions of pro-opiomelanocortin have been purified from extracts of bovine posterior pituitaries. Peptides were purified using a combination of reversed-phase and ion-exchange batch extraction procedures followed by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography. beta-Lipotropin (1-40) was found to consist of four major components while joining peptide was found to consist of two major components. Fast atom bombardment-mass spectrometric analysis of the tryptic fragments of both peptides revealed that the observed heterogeneity could be explained in terms of post-translational modifications. beta-Lipotropin (1-40) was found to be sulfated at tyrosine residue 28 to an extent of about 50%. The tyrosine residue in beta-lipotropin (1-40) is situated within an amino acid sequence with a preponderance of glutamate residues. Sulfation of this amino acid residue is entirely compatible with the known primary structure requirements of the sulfotransferase enzyme located in the trans-Golgi fraction. Both beta-lipotropin (1-40) and joining peptide were found to have pyroglutamate at their amino termini to an extent of about 50%. The cDNA sequence for bovine pro-opiomelanocortin predicts the presence of glutamic acid at position 1 of both peptides. Pyroglutamate is normally formed through the cyclization of glutamine. This reaction is thought to be catalyzed by a pyroglutamate forming enzyme located within the secretory granule fraction. Under certain circumstances peptides with glutamate at their amino termini may act as substrates for this enzyme.
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PMID:Post-translational modification of bovine pro-opiomelanocortin. Tyrosine sulfation and pyroglutamate formation, a mass spectrometric study. 226 17


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