Casomorphin

Encyclopedia : C : CA : CAS : Casomorphin

Casomorphin is a peptide sequence that is found in whey protein called casein, and which can be addictive to humans and cause an opiate effect.^{[[Citing sources 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, the casomorphin is one of the small sequences produced.^{[[Citing sources citation needed]]} This sequence travels 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.^{[[Citing sources citation needed]]}

There are several different casomorphins which are opioid peptides.^{[[Citing sources 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.^{[[Citing sources citation needed]]} They are then accumulated in the body over time and can lead to a peptide poisoning.^{[[Citing sources citation needed]]} This is particularly often reported in patients with ADHD, autism and schizophrenia.^{[[Citing sources citation needed]]} Withdrawal symptoms are quite common, more so than in the case of gluten peptides (gluten exorphines and gliadorphin).^{[[Citing sources 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

Some known casomorphins

β-Casomorphin 1-3

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

β-Casomorphin 1-4

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

β-Casomorphin 1-4, amide

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

β-Casomorphin 5

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

β-Casomorphin 7

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

β-Casomorphin 8

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

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