UNIPROT:P01189 - FACTA Search

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)

It is proposed that all peptide hormones and releasing factors are biosynthesized in the form of precursor molecules which are biologically inactive. Enzymic activation may take place by hydrolytic cleavage to release a terminal COOH group or by transmidation to form a COOH-terminal amide. Studies with pituitary prohormones and hormones are providing data that support this hypothesis. Evidence has been obtained that the 91 residue beta-lipotropin (beta-LPH) is the prohormone of beta-melanotropin (beta-MSH). The specificity of the pituitary enzymes involved in release of the hormone was demonstrated by the isolation of five constituent fragments of LPH, which were obtained in homogeneous form from the pituitary gland of the pig. The enzymes have specificities similar to trypsin and carboxypeptidase B; carboxypeptidase A and aminopeptidase activities do not appear to be involved. Mild digestion of beta-LPH by trypsin in vitro has confirmed the susceptibility of the peptide bond on the carboxy side of the paired basic residues at positions 59 and 60, adjacent to the COOH-terminus of beta-MSH, and tryptic digestion of a model peptide demonstrated the same specificity. The paired basic residues at positions 39 and 40 adjacent to the NH2-terminus of beta-MSH were more resistant to tryptic attack, both in LPH and in a model peptide. In the gland it is apparent that LPH is cleaved on the carboxy side of the paired lysyl residues at positions 39 and 40, whereas in the synthetic peptide cleavage takes place in between these residues. The activating enzyme may differ from trypsin; alternatively, explanation may be found in the conformation of the prohormone. Prediction of secondary indicates that both pairs of basic residues lie adjacent to beta-bends on the surface of the molecule and occupy sites accessible to enzymic attack. It seems likely that alpha-MSH and corticotropin (ACTH) share a common pro hormone. The release of ACTH could involve cleavage of a -Gly-Ser- bond in the prohormone to expose the NH2-terminus of the hormone. With alpha-MSH, a concerted acetylation and cleavage may take place to form the N-acetylserine residue; the COOH-terminus may be released as an amide by direct transamidation of a -Val-Gly- bond in the prohormone. Release of either hormone would be accompanied by the release of contiguous fragments of the prohormone. We have isolated two novel polypeptides from pig pituitary in substantial quantity and have determined the primary structures. They may represent fragments of a prohormone to alpha-MSH or ACTH.
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PMID:Prohormones of beta-melanotropin (beta-melanocyte-stimulating hormone, beta-MSH) and corticotropin (adrenocorticotropic hormone, ACTH): structure and activation. 18 Dec 27

Astrocytes were prepared from rats of 4 ages, embryonic day 20, postnatal days 3 and 8, and adult, in order to study the developmental time course of expression of enkephalin and somatostatin (SS). Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) content was constant in both cortical and cerebellar astrocytes prepared from all ages. SS mRNA and peptide decreased over this developmental time course in cerebellar astrocytes; the time course of changes in SS mRNA paralleled that for rat cerebellum. Proenkephalin (PE) mRNA increased about 3-fold in cerebellar astrocytes from embryonic day 20 to adult but remained constant in cortical astrocytes; in contrast, PE mRNA showed a 10- to 12-fold increase in rat cerebellum and cortex developmentally. For both cerebellar and cortical astrocytes, free met-enkephalin decreased from embryonic day 20 to adult, whereas total met-enkephalin (measured following trypsin-carboxypeptidase B digestion of the extracts) increased. These results suggest (1) that there is a developmental regulation of the expression of both enkephalin and SS peptides in astrocytes, and (2) that the regulation occurs at the level of transcription for SS but at the level of precursor processing for PE. Possible trophic functions for astrocyte-derived peptides early in CNS development are discussed.
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PMID:Developmental expression of the proenkephalin and prosomatostatin genes in cultured cortical and cerebellar astrocytes. 135 15

We have previously demonstrated an increase in plasma met-enkephalin levels during the pain attacks in episodic cluster headache. The present study was undertaken in order to clarify the source of the plasma met-enkephalin increase. Recent evidence has shown that peripheral blood polymorphonuclear cells contain peptides derived from the proenkephalin A system, which can be released by specific stimuli. We studied neutrophil met-enkephalin containing peptides (NMECP) in 27 episodic cluster headache patients: 24 in a cluster period (6 of them during a pain attack), and 3 in the remission period. Neutrophil met-enkephalin containing peptide levels (after sequential enzymatic digestion with trypsin and carboxypeptidase B) were determined by radioimmunoassay with specific antiserum. Neutrophil peptide concentration (pmol/mg prot) was lower (p less than 0.01) in patients during the pain attack (14.4 +/- 0.36) than after their pain had subsided (36.7 +/- 0.31) and lower than in the remission period patients (35.8 +/- 0.4). We conclude that neutrophil met-enkephalin containing peptides decrease during pain in episodic cluster headache, and that they may be involved in the concomitant plasma met-enkephalin increase.
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PMID:Changes in neutrophil met-enkephalin containing peptides in episodic cluster headache. 188 84

Previous immunochemical investigations have demonstrated various opioid peptides in the pancreas. However, controversies exist related to the cellular localization of these peptides in the endocrine pancreas. Therefore, the guinea pig endocrine pancreas was immunohistochemically investigated for the presence of opioid peptides derived from pro-dynorphin, pro-enkephalin or pro-opiomelano-cortin. Immunoreactivities were demonstrated on serial semithin sections by the peroxidase anti-peroxidase technique. In routinely immunostained sections, immunoreactivities for dynorphin A and alpha-neo-endorphin were localized in pancreatic enterochromaffin cells, but not in islet cells. Immunoreactivity for Met-enkephalin was confined exclusively to B-cells and was localized only in some secretory granules. However, pre-treatment of semi-thin sections with trypsin and carboxypeptidase B led to a marked increase of Met-enkephalin immunoreactivity in B-cells. In addition, immunoreactivities for Met-enkephalin-Arg-Gly-Leu and bovine adrenal medulla dodecapeptide could be demonstrated in B- and A-cells, and beta-endorphin immunoreactivity was localized in A-cells. In no case, however, were immunoreactivities detected for bovine adrenal medulla docosapeptide, peptide F, corticotropin, melanotropin or dynorphin 1-32. The immunohistochemical findings indicate that opioids of different peptide families are present in the guinea pig endocrine pancreas. Since several opioid peptides of the corresponding pro-hormones could be demonstrated in the reference organs but not in the pancreas, it is concluded that the biosynthetic pathways of the respective precursors are different from those in the adrenal medulla or in the pituitary.
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PMID:Immunohistochemistry of opioid peptides in the guinea pig endocrine pancreas. 197 Sep 50

Opioid and tachykinin neuropeptides, which were derived from two biological sources (intact, and released from their corresponding precursors by the action of human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) neuropeptidases), were characterized in human CSF by using a combination of post-high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) detection techniques. Peptides were separated using gradient and isocratic reversed-phase HPLC. Radioimmunoassay measured immunoreactivity corresponding to several different individual neuropeptides including methionine enkephalin, leucine enkephalin, substance P and beta-endorphin. Commercial enzymes (trypsin, carboxypeptidase B) were used to release methionine- and leucine-enkephalin from precursors. Human CSF also served as a source of endogenous neuropeptidases. Mass spectrometry produced fragment ions that corroborated the amino acid sequence of methionine enkephalin and of substance P derived from both sources (intact, from precursors). These results demonstrated the presence of endogenous intact neuropeptides, several different neuropeptide-containing precursors and appropriate precursor-processing enzymes in human CSF for precursors of methionine enkephalin, leucine enkephalin, beta-endorphin1-31 and substance P.
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PMID:Opioid and tachykinin peptides, and their precursors and precursor-processing enzymes, in human cerebrospinal fluid. 232 43

The biochemical and pharmacological properties of an endogenous anticonvulsant substance(s) found in rat cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) following seizures are described. CSF taken from donor rats following a single maximal electroshock (MES) seizure caused significant elevations in seizure thresholds in naive recipient rats when intracerebroventricularly injected 15 min prior to exposure to the volatile convulsant flurothyl. Anticonvulsant activity was antagonized by pre-injection in recipients of high doses of naloxone or the selective delta-opioid receptor antagonist ICI 174,864. The anticonvulsant activity was also lost when the CSF was exposed to heat (90 degrees C) or immobilized trypsin. Although unaffected by the peptidase inhibitors thiorphan and bestatin, the anticonvulsant activity was significantly potentiated by a combination of aprotinin and bacitracin. Ultrafiltration of CSF revealed that the anticonvulsant activity passed through membranes with a 10,000 molecular weight cut-off, but was retained by membranes with a 5000 molecular weight cut-off. CSF removed from rats following MES had significantly increased concentrations of beta-endorphin-like, but not dynorphin A, Leu- or Met-enkephalin-like immunoreactivities relative to CSF from sham-treated rats. However, significant increases in Met-enkephalin-like immunoreactivity were measured following exposure of the CSF to the proteolytic enzymes trypsin and carboxypeptidase B, suggesting the seizure-induced presence of a higher molecular weight form of Met-enkephalin not recognized immunologically prior to enzyme exposure. These data reconfirm the anticonvulsant actions of postseizure CSF, and indicate that these effects require mediation through delta-opioid receptors in the recipient rat. These data additionally argue against these effects being mediated by Met-enkephalin, Leu-enkephalin or dynorphin A in the CSF, and suggest instead that anticonvulsant effects are attributable to a heat- and trypsin-sensitive opioid peptide(s) with a molecular weight approximately in the range of 5000-10,000 Da.
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PMID:Characterization of opioid peptide-like anticonvulsant activity in rat cerebrospinal fluid. 245 10

Developmental patterns for rat pancreatic opioid peptides and islet hormones were studied from gestational day 20 through adulthood. Fetal tissue was obtained as well as pancreas at birth (day 0), and postnatal days 3, 7, 14, and 21, and 7 weeks. The hormones measured included insulin, glucagon, and somatostatin. The opioids measured were beta-endorphin, Met- and Leu-enkephalins, and the high molecular weight enkephalin precursors. Pancreata were pooled as necessary and extracted (acid alcohol, or hot acetic acid), and opioids were further purified on reversed-phase C-18 (Sep-pak) cartridges. In all instances measurements were made by radioimmunoassays. Precursor peptides were first digested (with trypsin and carboxypeptidase B) prior to immunoassay. All opioids and hormones except the precursors for enkephalins showed a well-defined surge in pancreatic concentration during the first postnatal week. In contrast, the precursors had the highest concentration in the fetus, and by the seventh day of life had decreased by greater than 50%. This progressive decrease may represent maturation of the enkephalin convertase and trypsin-like enzymes in the islets. The opioid and hormonal surges that we have described are similar to the surge in islet concentration of thyroid-releasing hormone (TRH) previously described in neonatal rat islets. It is suggested that these postnatal alterations in opioid and hormone concentration relate to a specific function in the development of the endocrine pancreas.
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PMID:Developmental patterns for pancreatic opioids in the rat. 253 May 76

Twice-daily intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injections for three days of increasing doses of guanidino-ethyl-mercapto-succinic acid (GEMSA) produced a dose-dependent decrease in methionine-enkephalin- and leucine-enkephalin levels in rat hypothalami. GEMSA is a specific and potent inhibitor of a carboxypeptidase B-like processing enzyme, referred to as enkephalin convertase (EC). The administration of GEMSA (0.1 microgram) resulted in more than 50% reduction in the levels of these two opioid peptides. However, no changes occurred in the hypothalamic content of beta-endorphin or dynorphin1-17. Moreover, in GEMSA-treated animals, hypothalamic luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone and serum luteinizing hormone levels were increased by 75%. Serum prolactin concentrations were decreased by 60% at the same time. Subcutaneous naloxone administration resulted in a 75% elevation of serum LH concentrations in control animals whereas GEMSA-treated animals showed a blunted response, most likely due to a decreased amount of opioid-active peptides. The present study is in agreement with the putative role of EC in the processing of the multivalent opioid precursor (proenkephalin A) in the rat hypothalamus. The enzyme inhibition by GEMSA may result in a reduced enkephalinergic tone, which is then accompanied by an altered endocrine status.
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PMID:In vivo modulation of rat hypothalamic opioid peptide content by intracerebroventricular injection of guanidinoethylmercaptosuccinic acid (GEMSA): possible physiological role of enkephalin convertase. 266 3

Proteins extracted from suboesophageal ganglia of Squilla mantis, an arthropod shown to be sensitive in vivo to opiates and to contain native opioid like peptide(s), were fractionated by gel filtration into three pools according to their molecular weight: A (Mr greater than 65,000), B (10,000 less than Mr less than 65,000) and C (Mr less than 10,000). None of these pools showed any immunoreactivity when radioimmunoassayed using antisera raised against Met-enkephalin either before or after sequential trypsin/carboxypeptidase B proteolysis. Further purification of pool C by HPLC followed by RIA using antibodies directed to Met-O-enkephalin,Leu-enkephalin,Dynorphin 1-13 and human beta-endorphin, showed only a trace amount of Met-enkephalin cross-reactivity (about 10 fmoles/mg of protein extract). No detectable amount of Leu- or Met-enkephalin was found after HPLC fractionation of proteolyzed pool B. Radioreceptor assay of HPLC fractions derived from trypsin/carboxypeptidase B treated pools B and C showed major areas of activity common to both pools, but nevertheless with differing retention times compared to the standard opioid peptides used.
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PMID:RIA/chromatographic evidence for novel opioid peptide(s) in Squilla mantis ganglia. 287 12

The endogenous opioid peptides all contain the enkephalin sequence Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Met and Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Leu at their aminoterminus. Three distinct families of these peptides (endorphins, enkephalins and dynorphins) are present in different neuronal pathways within the central nervous system. Molecular genetics have shown that these three families of opioid peptides are derived from three distinct precursors. Pro-opiomelanocortin gives rise to the endorphins, as well as adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and the melanotropic hormones (MSH's). [Met] enkephalin, [Leu] enkephalin and the related heptapeptide [Met] enkephalin-Arg6-Phe7 and octapeptide [Met] enkephalin-Arg6-Gly7-Leu8 are derived from proenkephalin. The third family is derived from prodynorphin and includes dynorphin A, dynorphin B (also known as rimorphin) and alpha- and beta-neo-endorphin. The structure of the genes coding for these precursors are similar, suggesting the possibility of one common ancestral gene. The most common scheme for enzymatic maturation of precursors proposes the action of a trypsin-like endopeptidase followed by a carboxypeptidase B-like exopeptidase. However, we have provided evidence that this combination of trypsin-like and carboxypeptidase B-like enzymes may not be the only mechanism for liberating enkephalin from low molecular weight enkephalin-containing peptides. Indeed, endo-oligopeptidase A, an enzyme, known to hydrolyze the Phe5-Ser6 bond of bradykinin and the Arg8-Arg9 bond of neurotensin, has been shown to produce, by a single cleavage, [Leu] enkephalin or [Met] enkephalin from small enkephalin-containing peptides, (Camargo et al., 1987, J. Neurochem. 48, 1258-1263).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:[Biosynthesis of opioid peptides]. 305 81

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