Opioid Peptides: Molecular Pharmacology, Biosynthesis, and Analysis

摘要

The monograph presents contributions in the various aspects of the molecular pharmacology, biosynthesis, and analysis of opioid peptides. Biosynthesis of neuroendocrine and opioid peptides and the processing of precursors is not only dependent on their primary sequence, but on their three-dimensional conformation. Also discussed is the biosynthesis of opioid peptides with emphasis on opioid peptide genes, transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulation of opioid peptide gene expression, and translational and posttranslational regulation of opioid peptide production. The general biosynthetic aspects of opioid peptides and proenkephalin biosynthesis in rats are also presented. All these metabolic processes involve a number of specific enzymes. An account of their isolation, assay, and specificity is presented.