Casomorphin

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Casomorphin is a peptide sequence that is derived from a protein found in milk called casein, and which some people consider to be addictive to humans and cause an opiate effect.^{[citation needed]}

All proteins are chains of amino acids. In the digestive system, proteins are chopped up into small segments of amino acid sequences, called peptides. When casein is broken down by this mechanism, casomorphin is one of the small sequences produced.^{[citation needed]} If absorbed into the bloodstream, this sequence can travel to the brain, where it may bind to opiate receptors and cause an effect similar to that produced by endorphins and the other similar peptides.^{[citation needed]} The endorphin-like activity of casomorphins in healthy individuals is generally limited to the intestines, where it may cause mild constipation in large quantities.^{[citation needed]} Leaky Gut Syndrome , an uncommon disorder associated with ADHD, autism, schizophrenia and mercury toxicity, can permit casomorphins to enter the bloodstream.^{[citation needed]}

There are several different casomorphins which are opioid peptides.^{[citation needed]} They are formed during digestion of the casein protein from bovine milk. They are usually broken down into amino acids by digestion enzymes, but in some individuals they are not.^{[citation needed]} They are then accumulated in the body over time and can lead to a peptide poisoning.^{[citation needed]} This is particularly often reported in patients with ADHD, autism and schizophrenia.^{[citation needed]} Withdrawal symptoms are quite common, more so than in the case of gluten peptides (gluten exorphines and gliadorphin).^{[citation needed]}

In the human body casomorphins are generally broken down to inactive dipeptides by the enzyme dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV).^{[citation needed]} This enzyme is found in the digestive tract and in some endocrine cells, allowing casomorphins absorbed into the body to be eliminated at a rate consistent with the amount of DPP-IV in the body.^{[citation needed]}

Contents 1 Some known casomorphins 1.1 β-Casomorphin 1-3 1.2 β-Casomorphin 1-4 1.3 β-Casomorphin 1-4, amide 1.4 β-Casomorphin 5 1.5 β-Casomorphin 7 1.6 β-Casomorphin 8 2 External links

[edit] Some known casomorphins

[edit] β-Casomorphin 1-3

• Structure: H-Tyr-Pro-Phe-OH
• Chemical formula: C₂₃H₂₇N₃O₅
• Molecular weight: 425.48 g/mol

[edit] β-Casomorphin 1-4

• Structure: H-Tyr-Pro-Phe-Pro-OH
• Chemical formula:
• Molecular weight: 522.61 g/mol

[edit] β-Casomorphin 1-4, amide

• Structure: H-Tyr-Pro-Phe-Pro-NH₂
• Chemical formula: C₂₈H₃₉N₅O₇
• Molecular weight: 557.64 g/mol

[edit] β-Casomorphin 5

• Structure: H-Tyr-Pro-Phe-Pro-Gly-OH
• Chemical formula: C₃₀H₃₇N₅O₇
• Molecular weight: 594.66 g/mol

[edit] β-Casomorphin 7

• Structure: H-Tyr-Pro-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro-Ile-OH
• Chemical formula: C₄₁H₅₅N₇O₉
• Molecular weight: 789.9 g/mol

[edit] β-Casomorphin 8

• Structure: H-Tyr-Pro-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro-Ile-Pro-OH
• Chemical formula: C₄₆H₆₂N₈O₁₀
• Molecular weight: 887.00 g/mol

[edit] External links

• Kurek M, Przybilla B, Hermann K, Ring J (1992). "A naturally occurring opioid peptide from cow's milk, beta-casomorphine-7, is a direct histamine releaser in man". Int Arch Allergy Immunol 97 (2): 115-20. PMID 1374738.