Dja. Anand et A. Oommen, A MOLECULAR-WEIGHT STUDY OF THE RAT-BRAIN DELTA-OPIOID RECEPTOR, Indian Journal of Biochemistry & Biophysics, 32(3), 1995, pp. 161-165
The molecular weight of the rat brain delta opioid receptor, studied w
ith antiidiotypic antibodies to anti-leucine enkephalin that mimic leu
cine enkephalin in binding to the receptor, was examined by molecular
sieving and Western Blots under nondenaturing, denaturing and reducing
conditions. The receptor appeared to be 55-65 kDa, which on solubiliz
ation may exist in equilibrium with receptor oligomers of 130-150 kDa
and aggregates of > 200 kDa. These forms may also represent aggregatio
n due to solubilization. A 38-43 kDa molecule was considered a minor f
orm of the receptor in the brain.