THE HEMORPHINS - A NEW CLASS OF OPIOID-PEPTIDES DERIVED FROM THE BLOOD PROTEIN HEMOGLOBIN

Hemorphins are endogenous peptides belonging to the family of ''noncla ssical'' or ''atypical'' opioid peptides. They are generated by enzyma tic hydrolysis of the beta-, kappa-, delta-, or epsilon-chain of the b lood protein hemoglobin. Originally, the hemorphins were isolated from enzymatically treated bovine blood. In recent years hemorphin structu res have been identified as naturally occurring peptides in brain, pla sma, and cerebrospinal fluid. This article will review recent studies of rite hemorphins regarding their structures, mechanisms for their re lease, and their biological actions. A particular emphasis will be dir ected to their role in exercising human and their clinical relevance. (C) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.