title: Endoproteolytic conversion of beta-endorphin-1-31 to beta-endorphin-1-27 potentiates its central cardioregulatory activity.
abstract: Brain neurons that express the pro-opiomelanocortin gene secrete multiple forms of beta-endorphin (beta E) which subserve diverse bioregulatory processes. beta E-1-31, for example, is a potent analgetic but beta E-1-27 acts as an opioid antagonist and beta E-1-26, as well as the N-acetyl derivatives of all 3 peptides, lack opioid receptor activity. The present study examines the effects of beta-endorphin processing on its central cardioregulatory potency. Consistent with previous reports, intracisternal beta E-1-31 (1.5 nmol) injection lowered mean arterial pressure (MAP); MAP was reduced by 29.7 +/- 3.9 mm Hg at 60 min and returned toward baseline by 120 min. Unexpectedly, beta E-1-27 displayed a 10-fold greater hypotensive potency than beta E-1-31. At 0.15 nmol, it produced a response equivalent to 1.5 nmol beta E-1-31 while 1.5 nmol beta E-1-27 sustained a maximal reduction in MAP (49.2 +/- 3.9 mm Hg) throughout the 120-min test period. In contrast, beta E-1-26 and N-acetyl-beta E-1-26, -1-27 and -1-31 were inactive at 1.5 nmol. Bradycardia accompanied the depressor response to the higher beta E-1-27 dose but not to beta E-1-31. Naloxone pretreatment completely blocked the depressor effects of both beta E-1-31 and beta E-1-27, and reversed the bradycardia produced by beta E-1-27, suggesting that both peptides act through opioid receptors. beta E-1-27 also stimulated catecholamine release from the perfused adrenal gland but beta E-1-31 was inactive. These findings emphasize the importance of regionally selected post-translational processing in defining the functional specificity of beta E peptides.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Hirsch
authors.forename: W R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Millington
mesh_terms: D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000187:drug effects / Q000294:innervation / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D010450:Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism*; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000378:metabolism*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012016:Reference Values; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D010446:Peptide Fragments; D001615:beta-Endorphin; C035581:beta-endorphin (1-27); D010450:Endopeptidases; D009638:Norepinephrine; D004837:Epinephrine