Deltorphin I Explained
Deltorphin I, also known as [<small>D</small>-Ala<sup>2</sup>]deltorphin I or deltorphin C, is a naturally occurring, exogenous opioid heptapeptide and hence, exorphin, with the amino acid sequence Tyr-D-Ala-Phe-Asp-Val-Val-Gly-NH2.[1] [2] While not known to be endogenous to humans or other mammals, deltorphin I, along with the other deltorphins and the dermorphins, is produced naturally in the skin of species of Phyllomedusa, a genus of frogs native to South and Central America. Deltorphin possesses very high affinity and selectivity as an agonist for the δ-opioid receptor, and on account of its unusually high blood-brain-barrier penetration rate,[3] produces centrally-mediated analgesic effects in animals even when administered peripherally.[4]
See also
Notes and References
- Erspamer V, Melchiorri P, Falconieri-Erspamer G . Deltorphins: a family of naturally occurring peptides with high affinity and selectivity for delta opioid binding sites . Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America . 86 . 13 . 5188–92 . July 1989 . 2544892 . 297583 . 10.1073/pnas.86.13.5188. 1989PNAS...86.5188E . etal. free .
- Balboni G, Marastoni M, Picone D . New features of the delta opioid receptor: conformational properties of deltorphin I analogues . Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications . 169 . 2 . 617–22 . June 1990 . 2162669 . 10.1016/0006-291X(90)90375-W. etal.
- Fiori A, Cardelli P, Negri L, Savi MR, Strom R, Erspamer V . Deltorphin transport across the blood–brain barrier . Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America . 94 . 17 . 9469–74 . August 1997 . 9256506 . 23226 . 10.1073/pnas.94.17.9469. 1997PNAS...94.9469F . free .
- Thomas SA, Abbruscato TJ, Hau VS . Structure-activity relationships of a series of [D-Ala2]deltorphin I and II analogues; in vitro blood–brain barrier permeability and stability ]. The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics . 281 . 2 . 817–25 . May 1997 . 9152390 . etal.
