Avian opioid peptides: evolutionary considerations, functional roles and a challenge to address critical questions.

ABSTRACT: The present review considers the putative hormonal opioid peptides in birds. In birds and all other vertebrates, there are four opioid related genes encoding a series of peptides. These genes are, respectively, proenkephalin (PENK), prodynorphin (PDYN), pronociceptin (PNOC) and proopiomelanocortin (POMC). Proenkephalin (PENK) encodes Met- and Leu-enkephalin together with peptides containing met enkephalin motifs in birds, mammals and reptiles. Proopiomelanocortin (POMC) encodes β endorphin together with adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH). Prodynorphin (PDYN) encoding dynorphins A and B with α- and β-neoendorphins together intermediate polypeptides across the vertebrates. Pronociceptin (PNOC) encodes nociceptin together with possibly putative avian

SUBMITTER: Pierzchala-Koziec K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10280075 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature