OPIOID-PEPTIDES DERIVED FROM HEMOGLOBIN - HEMORPHINS

Investigation of hemoglobin peptic hydrolysate has revealed the presen ce of biologically active peptides with affinity for opioid receptors. Two peptides, VV-hemorphin-7 and LVV-hemorphin-7, were resolved by a combination of size exclusion and reversed phase HPLC. A new spectrosc opic method based on the second order derivative spectra analysis of a romatic amino acids has been developed. This method allows qualitative and quantitative evaluation of hemorphins generated by peptic hemoglo bin hydrolysis. Using this method, a kinetic study of hemorphins appea rance has been undertaken. In this paper, we also evidenced the genera tion of VV-hemorphin-7 from globin by peritoneal macrophages. In regar d to this result, the putative physiological role of hemorphins is dis cussed. (C) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.