Dermorphine

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Dermorphine is a hepta-peptide that sometimes is found in human blood and urine. It is a highly potent mu-agonist, originally isolated from the skin of the South American frog Phyllomedusa Sauvaei. This peptide is quite difficult for the body to break down, and is thought to cause or worsen mental illness.

Where dermorphine comes from is still a mystery, but it is clear that its source is microbial. The reason for this is that one of the amino acids in this peptide is not among the 20 encoded by DNA and cannot be produced by higher organisms. The guess is that bacteria or molds are responsible.

Structure of dermorphine: H-Tyr-D-Ala-Phe-Gly-Tyr-Pro-Ser-NH₂
Chemical formula: C₄₀H₅₀N₈O₁₀
Molecular weight: 802.9 g/mol