Methionine-enkephalin peptides in human teeth |
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| Authors: | F S Tanzer E Tolun G H Fridland C Dass J Killmar P W Tinsley D M Desiderio |
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| Institution: | Department of Biologic and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Dentistry, University of Tennessee, Memphis. |
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| Abstract: | The presence of the free opioid pentapeptide methionine enkephalin (ME) and of ME-containing peptide(s) was established firmly in decalcified, depulped human teeth by using a combination of methods including RP-HPLC, radioimmunoassay, radioreceptorassay, trypsin, carboxypeptidase B, fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry, and MS/MS methodology. Positive structural identification of ME was made with mass spectrometry. Those data demonstrate the presence of the preproenkephalinergic A system in the human trigeminal sensory termini. |
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