title: Characterization of big dynorphins from rat brain and spinal cord.
abstract: To examine the processing of products of the dynorphin gene in the central nervous system, immunoreactive (ir) dynorphin (Dyn) A, Dyn B, Dyn A-(1-8), alpha- and beta-neo-endorphin (alpha- and beta-Neo) in rat brain and spinal cord were measured, using specific antisera after gel filtration and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Three peaks of Mr about 8, 4, and 2 kDa for ir-Dyn A and ir-Dyn B, and one peak of Mr less than 2 kDa for ir-Dyn A-(1-8), ir-alpha-, and ir-beta-Neo were found both in the brain and in the spinal cord. The 8 kDa peak was recognized by Dyn A and Dyn B antisera and, after hydrolysis by proline-specific endopeptidase, by beta-Neo antiserum. The 8 kDa peak was recognized by a monoclonal antibody against the amino terminal sequence Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe of all opioid peptides and by an antiserum directed toward the carboxyl terminus of Dyn B, indicating that it contains, from the amino terminal tyrosine of neo-endorphin to the carboxyl-terminal threonine of Dyn B, all 3 opioid peptide regions in the prodynorphin. By means of proline-specific endopeptidase hydrolysis, we also found a big dynorphin precursor (Mr approximately equal to 26 kDa) in both brain and spinal cord.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004399:Dynorphins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004723:Endorphins / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000032:analysis; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000032:analysis*; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*
chemical_list: D004723:Endorphins; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011498:Protein Precursors; D001615:beta-Endorphin; C025681:alpha-neoendorphin; D004399:Dynorphins; C026770:dynorphin (1-8); C030719:beta-neo-endorphin; C036200:rimorphin