TY - JOUR
T1 - An opioid growth factor regulates the replication of microorganisms
AU - Zagon, Ian S.
AU - McLaughlin, Patricia J.
N1 - Funding Information:
We thank Wendy Lutz, Ivonne Acrich, and Denise Gibo for technical assistance. This work was supported by Public Health Service grants NS21628 and NS20500.
PY - 1992
Y1 - 1992
N2 - An opioid growth factor (OGF), [Met5]-enkephalin, interacts with the zeta (ζ) opioid receptor to modulate development of eukaryotes. We have found that [Met5]-enkephalin, an endogenous opioid peptide serves to inhibit the growth of S. aureus. This effect on growth involves cell proliferative events and is under tonic control, since potent opioid antagonists accelerate cell replication. Both the OGF and zeta opioid receptor were associated with these microorganisms. Other opioid receptors (μ, δ and κ) were not detected. OGF also controlled the growth of other bacteria: P. aeruginosa and S. marcesans. These results indicate that OGF and its receptor, known to be important in the regulation of mammalian development, also function in the growth of simple unicellular organisms. We suggest that the endogenous opioid system related to growth originated billions of years ago.
AB - An opioid growth factor (OGF), [Met5]-enkephalin, interacts with the zeta (ζ) opioid receptor to modulate development of eukaryotes. We have found that [Met5]-enkephalin, an endogenous opioid peptide serves to inhibit the growth of S. aureus. This effect on growth involves cell proliferative events and is under tonic control, since potent opioid antagonists accelerate cell replication. Both the OGF and zeta opioid receptor were associated with these microorganisms. Other opioid receptors (μ, δ and κ) were not detected. OGF also controlled the growth of other bacteria: P. aeruginosa and S. marcesans. These results indicate that OGF and its receptor, known to be important in the regulation of mammalian development, also function in the growth of simple unicellular organisms. We suggest that the endogenous opioid system related to growth originated billions of years ago.
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U2 - 10.1016/0024-3205(92)90461-W
DO - 10.1016/0024-3205(92)90461-W
M3 - Article
C2 - 1313136
AN - SCOPUS:0026554432
VL - 50
SP - 1179
EP - 1187
JO - Life Sciences
JF - Life Sciences
SN - 0024-3205
IS - 16
ER -