Abstract
Three amino acid-containing fractions present in human plasma are shown to bind both leu and met-enkephalin: serum albumin and two species of a much lower molecular weight, in all likelihood polypeptides. The amount of enkephalin associated with serum albumin seems comparatively smaller than that associated with the two low molecular weight systems. These systems jointly are apparently capable of binding a significant part of the circulating enkephalins. The possibility is suggested that the interactions described may play a role in maintaining the integrity of circulating enkephalins.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Terenius, L., andWahlstrom, A. 1974. Inhibitor(s) of narcotic receptor binding in brain extract and cerebrospinal fluid. Acta Pharmac. Tox. 35, Suppl. 1 Sch Comm. 55.
Hughes, J., Smith, T. W., Kosterlitz, H. W., Fothergill, L. A., Morgan, B. A., andMorris, H. R. 1975. Identification of two related pentapeptides from the brain with potent opiate agonist activity. Nature 258:577–579.
Craves, F. B., Law, P. Y., Hunt, C. A., andLoh, H. H. 1978. The Metabolic Disposition of Radiolabeled Enkephalins in Vitro and in Situ. J. Pharmacol. Ex. Ther. 206:492–506.
Gorenstein, C., andSnyder, S. H. 1979. Two distinct enkephalinases: solubilization, partial purification and separation from angiotensin converting enzyme. Life Sci. 25:2065–2070.
Traficante, L. J., Rotrosen, J., Siekierski, J., Tracer, H., andGershon, S. 1980. Enkephalin inactivation by N-Terminal tyrosine cleavage: purification and partial characterization of a highly specific enzyme from human brain. Life Sci. 26:1697–1706.
Schwartz, J.-C., Malfroy, B., andDe La Baume, S. 1981. Biological inactivation of enkephalins and the role of enkephalin-dipeptidyl-carboxypeptidase (enkephalinase) as neuropeptidase. Life Sci. 29:1715–1740.
Hambrook, J. M., Morgan, B. A., Rance, M. J., andSmith, C. F. C. 1976. Mode of deactivation of the enkephalins by rat and human plasma and rat brain homogenates. Nature 262:782–783.
Dupont, A., Cusan, L., Garon, M., Alvarado-Urbina, G., andLabrie, F. 1977. Extremely rapid degradation of the (3H)methionine-enkephalin by various rat tissues in vivo and in vitro. Life Sci. 21:907–914.
Clement-Jones, V., Lowry, P. J., Rees, L. H., andBesser, G. M. 1980. Met-enkephalin circulates in human plasma. Nature 283:295–297.
Schultzberg, M., Lundberg, J. M., Hokfelt, T., Terenius, L., Brandt, J., Helde, R. P., andGoldenstein, M. 1978. Enkephalin-like immunoreactivity in gland cells and nerve terminals of the adrenal medulla. Neurosci. 3:1169–1186.
Viveros, O. H., Diliberto, E. J. Jr., Hazum, E., andChang, K.-J. 1979. Opiate-Like Materials in the Adrenal Medulla: Evidence for Storage and Secretion with Catecholamines. Mol. Pharmacol. 16:1101–1108.
Hogue-Angeletti, R. A., andRoda, L. G. 1980. In vitro interaction of enkephalin with serum and chromaffin granule components. Experientia 36:420–421.
Roda, L. G., andHogue-Angeletti, R. A. 1979. Peptides in the adrenal medulla chromaffin granule. FEBS Lett. 107:393–397.
Dubois, M., Gilles, K. A., Hamilton, J. K., Robers, P. A., andSmith, F. 1956. Colorimetric method for determination of sugar and related substances. Anal. Chem. 28:350–356.
Wilgus, H., andStellwagen, E. 1979. Calibration Mixture for Estimation of Peptides Molecular Weight by Exclusion Chromatography. Anal. Biochem. 94:228–230.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Possenti, R., De Marco, V., Cherubini, O. et al. Enkephalin-binding systems in human plasma. Neurochem Res 8, 423–432 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00965099
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00965099