title: Isolation and characterization of the opioid peptides from rat pituitary: beta-endorphin.
abstract: beta-Endorphin was isolated from 200 rat pituitaries by means of high-performance column chromatography, using sensitive fluorometric methods and a radioreceptor assay for opioid activity. The beta-endorphin was characterized as to molecular weight, amino acid composition, and mapping of tryptic peptides by a new microtechnique. It was found that rat beta-endorphin is identical to camel and sheep beta-endorphin. Furthermore, alpha-endorphin, Met-enkephalin, a nonpeptide morphine-like compound (MLC), and an additional unidentified opioid compound were detected in the extract of rat pituitary.
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002621:Chemistry; D003429:Cross Reactions; D004723:Endorphins / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006868:Hydrolysis; D008297:Male; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009020:Morphine / Q000276:immunology; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000032:analysis*; D051381:Rats; D013997:Time Factors; D014357:Trypsin
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D004723:Endorphins; D009020:Morphine; D014357:Trypsin
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