enzyme
Enzymes () are proteins that act as biological catalysts by accelerating chemical reactions. The molecules upon which enzymes may act are called substrates, and the enzyme converts the substrates into different molecules known as products. A ...
that metabolizes the
endogenous
Endogenous substances and processes are those that originate from within a living system such as an organism, tissue, or cell.
In contrast, exogenous substances and processes are those that originate from outside of an organism.
For example, es ...
neuropeptide
Neuropeptides are chemical messengers made up of small chains of amino acids that are synthesized and released by neurons. Neuropeptides typically bind to G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) to modulate neural activity and other tissues like the ...
,
oxytocin
Oxytocin (Oxt or OT) is a peptide hormone and neuropeptide normally produced in the hypothalamus and released by the posterior pituitary. It plays a role in social bonding, reproduction, childbirth, and the period after childbirth. Oxytocin ...
. The most well-characterized oxytocinase is
leucyl/cystinyl aminopeptidase
Leucyl/cystinyl aminopeptidase, also known as cystinyl aminopeptidase (CAP), insulin-regulated aminopeptidase (IRAP), human placental leucine aminopeptidase (PLAP), oxytocinase, and vasopressinase, is an enzyme of the aminopeptidase group that in ...
, which is also an
enkephalinase Enkephalinases are enzymes that degrade endogenous enkephalin opioid peptides. They include:
* Aminopeptidase N (APN)
* Neutral endopeptidase (NEP)
* Dipeptidyl peptidase 3 (DPP3)
* Carboxypeptidase A6 (CPA6)
* Leucyl/cystinyl aminopeptidase ( ...
. Other oxytocinases are also known. During pregnancy, oxytocinase plays a role in balancing concentration of oxytocin by degrading the oxytocin produced by the fetus, as production of oxytocin increases with growth of fetus. One study found that concentration level of oxytocinase increased progressively with gestational age until
labor
Labour or labor may refer to:
* Childbirth, the delivery of a baby
* Labour (human activity), or work
** Manual labour, physical work
** Wage labour, a socioeconomic relationship between a worker and an employer
** Organized labour and the la ...
, which indicates that pregnancy development can be statistically evaluated by comparing oxytocinase levels.
Inhibitors
Amastatin
Amastatin, also known as 3-amino-2-hydroxy-5-methylhexanoyl-L-valyl-L-valyl-L-aspartic acid, is a naturally occurring, competitive and reversible aminopeptidase inhibitor that was isolated from ''Streptomyces sp. ME 98-M3''. It specifically inhib ...
,
bestatin
Ubenimex (INN), also known more commonly as bestatin, is a competitive, reversible protease inhibitor. It is an inhibitor of arginyl aminopeptidase (aminopeptidase B), leukotriene A4 hydrolase (a zinc metalloprotease that displays both epoxi ...
(ubenimex), and
puromycin
Puromycin is an antibiotic protein synthesis inhibitor which causes premature chain termination during translation.
Inhibition of translation
Puromycin is an aminonucleoside antibiotic, derived from the '' Streptomyces alboniger'' bacterium, ...
have been found to inhibit the enzymatic degradation of oxytocin, though they also inhibit the degradation of various other peptides, such as vasopressin,
met-enkephalin
Met-enkephalin, also known as metenkefalin (INN), sometimes referred to as opioid growth factor (OGF), is a naturally occurring
A natural product is a natural compound or substance produced by a living organism—that is, found in nature. In ...
, and
dynorphin A
Dynorphin A is a dynorphin, an endogenous opioid peptide with the amino acid sequence: Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Leu-Arg-Arg-Ile-Arg-Pro-Lys-Leu-Lys.
Dynorphin A1–8 is a truncated form of dynorphin A with the amino acid sequence: Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Leu-Ar ...
.
EDTA
Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) is an aminopolycarboxylic acid with the formula H2N(CH2CO2H)2sub>2. This white, water-soluble solid is widely used to bind to iron (Fe2+/Fe3+) and calcium ions (Ca2+), forming water-soluble complexes eve ...
o-phenanthroline
1,10-Phenanthroline (phen) is a heterocyclic organic compound. It is a white solid that is soluble in organic solvents. The 1,10 refer to the location of the nitrogen atoms that replace CH's in the hydrocarbon called phenanthrene.
Abbreviated ...
, and
phosphoramidon
Phosphoramidon is a chemical compound derived from cultures of '' Streptomyces tanashiensis''. It is an inhibitor of the enzyme thermolysin, of the membrane metallo-endopeptidase,
See also
*
Enkephalinase inhibitor
An enkephalinase inhibitor is a type of enzyme inhibitor which inhibits one or more members of the enkephalinase class of enzymes that break down the endogenous enkephalin opioid peptides. Examples include racecadotril, ubenimex (bestatin), RB-1 ...