Adrenorphin
Encyclopedia
Adrenorphin, also sometimes referred to as metorphamide, is an endogenous
, C-terminally amidated
, opioid
octapeptide
(Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Met-Arg-Arg-Val-NH2) that is produced from proteolyic
cleavage
of proenkephalin A and is widely distributed throughout the mammalian brain
. It was named based on the fact that it was originally detected in human
phaeochromocytoma tumour derived from the adrenal medulla
, and was subsequently found in normal human and bovine adrenal medulla as well. Adrenorphin exhibits potent
opioid activity, acting as a balanced μ- and κ-opioid receptor agonist
, while having no effects on δ-opioid receptors. It possesses analgesic
and respiratory deppresive properties.
Endogenous
Endogenous substances are those that originate from within an organism, tissue, or cell. Endogenous retroviruses are caused by ancient infections of germ cells in humans, mammals and other vertebrates...
, C-terminally amidated
Amide
In chemistry, an amide is an organic compound that contains the functional group consisting of a carbonyl group linked to a nitrogen atom . The term refers both to a class of compounds and a functional group within those compounds. The term amide also refers to deprotonated form of ammonia or an...
, opioid
Opioid
An opioid is a psychoactive chemical that works by binding to opioid receptors, which are found principally in the central and peripheral nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract...
octapeptide
Peptide
Peptides are short polymers of amino acid monomers linked by peptide bonds. They are distinguished from proteins on the basis of size, typically containing less than 50 monomer units. The shortest peptides are dipeptides, consisting of two amino acids joined by a single peptide bond...
(Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Met-Arg-Arg-Val-NH2) that is produced from proteolyic
Proteolysis
Proteolysis is the directed degradation of proteins by cellular enzymes called proteases or by intramolecular digestion.-Purposes:Proteolysis is used by the cell for several purposes...
cleavage
Cleavage
Cleavage may refer to:*Cleavage , partial exposure of the separation between a woman's breasts.**Cleavage enhancement, methods of making a person's breast cleavage look more substantial than it really is....
of proenkephalin A and is widely distributed throughout the mammalian brain
Brain
The brain is the center of the nervous system in all vertebrate and most invertebrate animals—only a few primitive invertebrates such as sponges, jellyfish, sea squirts and starfishes do not have one. It is located in the head, usually close to primary sensory apparatus such as vision, hearing,...
. It was named based on the fact that it was originally detected in human
Human
Humans are the only living species in the Homo genus...
phaeochromocytoma tumour derived from the adrenal medulla
Adrenal medulla
The adrenal medulla is part of the adrenal gland. It is located at the center of the gland, being surrounded by the adrenal cortex. It is the innermost part of the adrenal gland, consisting of cells that secrete epinephrine , norepinephrine , and a small amount of dopamine in response to...
, and was subsequently found in normal human and bovine adrenal medulla as well. Adrenorphin exhibits potent
Potency (pharmacology)
In the field of pharmacology, potency is a measure of drug activity expressed in terms of the amount required to produce an effect of given intensity. A highly potent drug evokes a larger response at low concentrations, while a drug of lower potency evokes a small response at low concentrations...
opioid activity, acting as a balanced μ- and κ-opioid receptor agonist
Agonist
An agonist is a chemical that binds to a receptor of a cell and triggers a response by that cell. Agonists often mimic the action of a naturally occurring substance...
, while having no effects on δ-opioid receptors. It possesses analgesic
Analgesic
An analgesic is any member of the group of drugs used to relieve pain . The word analgesic derives from Greek an- and algos ....
and respiratory deppresive properties.