Exorphins

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Exorphins are peptides that are produced by enzymatic cleavage from polypeptides found in food. The breakdown can result from digestive enzymes, activity of microorganisms or technical treatment (cooking, baking). You can find them e.g. B. in cereals, milk, cocoa, coffee. Exorphins act like opioids , meaning that they can act on opioid receptors .

The name exorphins comes from the similarity with the endorphins produced by the body itself . A connection between exorphins and psychological impairments such as autism or schizophrenia is discussed.

Exorphins are short chains of amino acids that are, so to speak, "hidden" in longer proteins. Example: Exorphin A5 from gluten: Gly-Tyr-Tyr-Pro-Thr. More important have the Casomorphin from milk digestion and Gliadorphin from gluten .

research

In the late 1970s, researchers discovered endorphin-like substances in milk. They were called exorphins because they are not produced endogenously but supplied exogenously. Such substances were later found in other foods when they were broken down with digestive enzymes, such as soy amorphines from soy .

The casomorphine from milk digestion is currently being researched more intensively , as it has potential for treating cancer.

physiology

The casomorphin in milk calms the offspring, encourages drinking and strengthens the mother-child relationship . It also functions as a "switch" for development processes.

Exorphins in plants serve as a defense against predators. They hinder digestion and have a reproductive inhibitory effect, making them similar to phytoestrogens .

See also

literature

  • DD Kitts, K. Weiler: Bioactive proteins and peptides from food sources. Applications of bioprocesses used in isolation and recovery. In: Current Pharmaceutical Design , Vol 9 (16), 2003, pp. 1309-1323, doi: 10.2174 / 1381612033454883 .
  • M. Yoshikawa, M. Takahashi, S. Yang: Delta opioid peptides derived from plant proteins. In: Current pharmaceutical design , Vol 9 (16), 2003, pp. 1325-1330, doi: 10.2174 / 1381612033454838 .
  • Christine Zioudrou, Richard A. Streaty, Werner A. Klee: Opioid Peptides Derived from Food Proteins. The Exorphins. In: Journal of Biological Chemistry , Vol. 254. No. 7, April 10, 1979, pp. 2446-2449; jbc.org (PDF)
  • VA Dubynin, LS Asmakova, N. Yu. Sokhanenkova et al. a .: Comparative analysis of neurotropic activity of exorphines, derivatives of dietary proteins. In: Bulletin of experimental biology and medicine , Volume 125, Number 2, pp. 131-134, doi: 10.1007 / BF02496839 .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Y. Yamada, A. Muraki, M. Oie et al. a .: Soymorphin-5, a soy-derived μ-opioid peptide, decreases glucose and triglyceride levels through activating adiponectin and PPARα systems in diabetic KKAy mice . In: Am. J. Physiol. Endocrinol. Metab. tape 302 , no. 4 , 2012, p. E433 – E440 , doi : 10.1152 / ajpendo.00161.2011 , PMID 22127231 .