Brain peptide emulates morphine

摘要

Peptide ligands that have a high affinity and exquisite specificity for the opiate receptor that binds morphine have been isolated from the bovine brain. The feat was accomplished by researchers at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Tu-lane University School of Medicine, New Orleans. Dubbed endomorphins, the ligands are the first naturally occurring opiate agonists to show preference for the morphine, or u, receptor. In test animals, they matched morphine in relieving pain [Nature, 386, 499 (1997)].