REVIEW ARTICLE

[Enkephalinase (EC. 3.4.24.11) — characteristics, distribution and role in the human]

B Skrzydło-Radomańska ¹

1. Katedra i Klinika Gastroenterologii Akademii Medycznej w Lublinie.

Published:

GICID: 01.3001.0000.2853

Available language versions: en pl

Issue: Postepy Hig Med Dosw 1994; 48 (4)

Abstract

Enkephalinase, the enzyme originally purified from kidney, is largely represented in brain and other tissues, namely in the airways, blood cells, kidney and the gastrointestinal tract. The highest enkephalinase activity was observed in duodenum and jejunum. Beside the participation in hydrolysis of proteins, enkephalinase degrades many biologically active peptides in the tissues and on that way can regulate some secretory or motoric functions.