Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2006 Jul-Aug;26(4-6):1003-10.
doi: 10.1007/s10571-006-9100-6. Epub 2006 Jun 27.

Endogenous signaling complexity in neuropeptides- leucine- and methionine-enkephalin

Walter J Lukiw  1
Affiliations
Review

Endogenous signaling complexity in neuropeptides- leucine- and methionine-enkephalin

Walter J Lukiw. Cell Mol Neurobiol. 2006 Jul-Aug.

Abstract

1. In addition to his many fine contributions in furthering our understanding of the neurochemical action of ecosanoids, catchelomines, steroids, anandamines, cannabinoids, endorphins, and the many modifications made to these neural factors, twenty years ago Julius Axelrod published a noteworthy paper concerning the nature of neuropeptides and their potential for multiple neurophysiological effects (Redgate et al., 1986). 2. In that report, Axelrod and coworkers described the neurological actions of the then recently discovered leucine- and methionine-enkephalins, and their biological functions which were novel, atypical, and in possession of neurological effects that were significantly "much more than additive." 3. In this short communication I would like to expand on this observation concerning the "additive effects" contained within the amino acid sequence of the atypical neurotransmitter peptides leucine- and methonine-enkephalin.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Pentapeptide structures of leucine- and methionine-enkephalin.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Bradbury, A. F., Smyth, D. G., and Snell, C. R. (1976). Biosynthetic origin and receptor conformation of methionine enkephalin. Nature260:165–166. - PubMed
    1. Childers, S. R., Creese, I., Snowman, A. M., and Synder, S.H. (1979). Opiate receptor binding affected differentially by opiates and opioid peptides. Eur. J. Pharmacol.55:11–18. - PubMed
    1. Coupar, I. M. (1995). The peristaltic reflex in the rat ileum: Evidence for functional mu- and delta-opiate receptors. J. Pharm. Pharmacol.. 47:643–646. - PubMed
    1. Dores, R. M., Lecaude, S., Bauer, D., and Danielson, P. B. (2002). Analyzing the evolution of the opioid/orphanin gene family. Mass Spectrom. Rev.21:220–243. - PubMed
    1. Hambrook, J. M., Morgan, B. A., Rance, M. J., and Smith, C. F. (1976). Mode of deactivation of the enkephalins by rat and human plasma and rat brain homogenates. Nature262:782–783. - PubMed

Publication types

LinkOut - more resources