metenkephalin


en·keph·a·lins

(en-kef'ă-linz), Pentapeptide endorphins, found in many parts of the brain, that bind to specific receptor sites, some of which may be pain-related opiate receptors; hypothesized as endogenous neurotransmitters and nonaddicting analgesics. Metenkephalin is Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Met; leuenkephalin has Leu in place of Met; proenkephalin has Pro in place of Met.

metenkephalin

One of the several ENDOGENOUS opium-like substances having a sequence of five amino acids. See also ENDORPHINS.