Interaction of iodinated human [D-Ala2]beta-endorphin with opitate receptors.

The interaction of beta-endorphin with opiate receptors was studied by using the radioiodinated, metabolically stable D-Ala2 derivative of human beta-endorphin. This analog binds specifically to rat brain membrane preparations with an apparent Kd of about 2.5 x 10-9 M. The ability of various enkephalin analogs, as well as opiate agonists and antagonists, to inhibit the binding of beta-endorphin clearly demonstrates that this peptide can bind to opiate receptors. However, the effects of various cations on the binding of 125I-[D-Ala2]beta-endorphin are markedly different from those found for enkephalin binding. Sodium ion at physiological concentrations decreases substantially the binding of enkephalins but only slightly decreases endorphin binding, whereas manganese enhances enkephalin binding but has no effect on endorphin binding. Moreover, potassium (100 mM) decreases the binding of beta-endorphin but does not affect enkephalin binding. These results suggest that beta-endorphin and enkephalin bind differently to the same receptor or bind to different receptors with overlapping specificity.