Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

R Houghten

Publications and source records attributed to R Houghten.

45 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1983

[3H] dynorphin binding to guinea pig and rat brain.

[3H] Dynorphin can be shown to bind to the brains of both rat and guinea pigs with approximately 50% specific binding. Characterization of the binding in terms of multiple opiate receptor types supports the kappa selectivity of dynorphin in guinea pig. However, in rat brain, a substantial proportion of the [3H] dynorphin binding is displaced by morphine, suggesting a mu as well as kappa component. Consequently, in rat, dynorphin may show effects at both mu and kappa receptors in vivo.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Isolation and properties of two fragments from plasmin digests of human choriomammotropin.

Two fragments have been isolated and characterized from plasmin digests of human choriomammotropin. It was shown that these two fragments were derived from the cleavage of the Arg-Arg (positions 133-134) and the Lys-Gln (positions 140--141) bonds of the hormone: one has 133 amino acids and the other 51 amino acids. Both fragments were biologically and immunologically inactive.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Binding of 3H-beta-endorphin in rat brain.

The binding of 3H-beta-endorphin to rat brain homogenates, reported by several other laboratories, has suggested unique selective beta-endorphin binding sites. We now present additional evidence supporting the concept of distinct beta-endorphin binding (epsilon) sites in rat brain. In competitive displacement studies, 3H-beta-endorphin was inhibited far better by unlabeled beta-endorphin than a variety of opiates and enkephalins. Conversely, beta-endorphin inhibited the binding of a series of 3H-labeled ligands, including dihydromorphine, ethylketocyclazocine, SKF 10,047, naloxone and D-ala2-D-leu5-enkephalin, far less potently than their corresponding unlabeled drug. Other differences were also found. Compared to 3H-dihydromorphine and 3H-D-ala2-D-leu5-enkephalin binding, 3H-beta-endorphin binding was far less sensitive to the reagent N-ethylmaleimide and more sensitive to the proteolytic enzyme trypsin. The regional distribution for 3H-beta-endorphin binding was also distinct from other 3H-ligands tested. This evidence supports the concept of a distinct binding site for beta-endorphin which does not correspond to the previously defined opioid binding sites.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The degradation of dynorphin A in brain tissue in vivo and in vitro.

The demonstration of analgesia following in vivo administration of dynorphin A (Dyn A) has been difficult. In contrast, a number of electrophysiological and behavioral effects reported with in vivo injection of Dyn A can be produced by des-tyrosine dynorphin A (Dyn A 2-17). This suggested the extremely rapid amino terminal degradation of dynorphin A. To test this hypothesis, we examined the degradation of dynorphin A following in vivo injection into the periaqueductal gray (PAG) as well as in vitro using rat brain membranes under receptor binding conditions. In vivo, we observed the rapid amino terminal cleavage of tyrosine to yield the relatively more stable destyrosine dynorphin A. This same cleavage after tyrosine was observed in vitro. Inhibition of this aminopeptidase activity in vitro was observed by the addition of dynorphin A 2-17 or dynorphin A 7-17 but not after the addition of dynorphin A 1-13, dynorphin A 1-8, dynorphin B or alpha-neo-endorphin suggesting a specific enzyme may be responsible. The detection of the behaviorally active des-tyrosine dynorphin A following in vivo injection of dynorphin A suggests that this peptide may play an important physiological role.

Animals↗