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O-sulphated Leu-enkephalin in brain

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Abstract

The enkephalins appear to share a common precursor which is distinct from pro-opiocortin1,2. The adrenal proenkephalins have molecular weights (Mrs) in the range 5,000–30,000 with the largest species containing six copies of Met-enkephalin to one of Leu-enkephalin3. The brain proenkephalins appear to differ in that the molecular weights are in the range 5,000–90,000 and digestion of the largest protein with trypsin and carboxypeptidase B generates approximately equal proportions of Met- and Leu-enkephalin4. During our studies of brain proenkephalin we noted the generation of enkephalin-immunoreactive species that were chromatographically distinct from Met- and Leu-enkephalin. Here we identify one of these species as O-sulphated Leu-enkephalin and suggest possible roles for sulphation in the metabolism of opioid peptides.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, Imperial College of Science and Technology, London, SW7 2AZ, UK

    C. D. Unsworth & John Hughes

  2. Pharmaceutical Division, ICI Ltd, Alderley Park, Cheshire, UK

    J. S. Morley

Authors
  1. C. D. Unsworth
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  2. John Hughes
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  3. J. S. Morley
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Unsworth, C., Hughes, J. & Morley, J. O-sulphated Leu-enkephalin in brain. Nature 295, 519–522 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1038/295519a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/295519a0

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