title: Endogenous signaling complexity in neuropeptides- leucine- and methionine-enkephalin.
abstract: 1. In addition to his many fine contributions in furthering our understanding of the neurochemical action of ecosanoids, catchelomines, steroids, anandamines, cannabinoids, endorphins, and the many modifications made to these neural factors, twenty years ago Julius Axelrod published a noteworthy paper concerning the nature of neuropeptides and their potential for multiple neurophysiological effects (Redgate et al., 1986). 2. In that report, Axelrod and coworkers described the neurological actions of the then recently discovered leucine- and methionine-enkephalins, and their biological functions which were novel, atypical, and in possession of neurological effects that were significantly "much more than additive." 3. In this short communication I would like to expand on this observation concerning the "additive effects" contained within the amino acid sequence of the atypical neurotransmitter peptides leucine- and methonine-enkephalin.
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Center and Department of Ophthalmology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, 2020 Gravier Street, Suite 8B8, New Orleans 70112-2272, USA. wlukiw@lsuhsc.edu
authors.forename: Walter J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Lukiw
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology; D004743:Enkephalin, Leucine / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005998:Glycine / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D009479:Neuropeptides; D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine; D004743:Enkephalin, Leucine; D005998:Glycine; D004298:Dopamine