Adrenorphin, also sometimes referred to as metorphamide, is an
endogenous,
C-terminally amidated,
opioid octapeptide (Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Met-Arg-Arg-Val-NH
2, YGGFMRRV-NH
2) that is produced from
proteolytic cleavage of
proenkephalin A and is widely distributed throughout the
mammalian
A mammal () is a vertebrate animal of the Class (biology), class Mammalia (). Mammals are characterised by the presence of milk-producing mammary glands for feeding their young, a broad neocortex region of the brain, fur or hair, and three ...
brain
The brain is an organ (biology), organ that serves as the center of the nervous system in all vertebrate and most invertebrate animals. It consists of nervous tissue and is typically located in the head (cephalization), usually near organs for ...
.
It was named based on the fact that it was originally detected in
human
Humans (''Homo sapiens'') or modern humans are the most common and widespread species of primate, and the last surviving species of the genus ''Homo''. They are Hominidae, great apes characterized by their Prehistory of nakedness and clothing ...
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
An agonist is a chemical that activates a Receptor (biochemistry), receptor to produce a biological response. Receptors are Cell (biology), cellular proteins whose activation causes the cell to modify what it is currently doing. In contrast, an R ...
while having no effects on
δ-opioid receptors.
It possesses
analgesic and
respiratory depressive properties.
See also
*
Opioid peptide
Opioid peptides or opiate peptides are peptides that bind to opioid receptors in the brain; opiates and opioids mimic the effect of these peptides. Such peptides may be produced by the body itself, for example endorphins. The effects of these p ...
References
{{Opioidergics
Analgesics
Neurotransmitters
Mu-opioid receptor agonists
Kappa-opioid receptor agonists
Opioid peptides
Octapeptides