最近在垂体发现了两种与β-内啡肽(β-内啡肽_(1～31))有关的肽:C’-段(β-内啡肽_(1～27))和C’-段的去组氨酸衍生物(β-内啡肽_(1～26))。这两种肽和β-内啡肽还以α,N-乙酰化的形式存在。这样,通过不同的蛋白水解酶的裂解和乙酰化过程,可以从一个前体中衍生出六种肽。不同形式的β-内啡肽在垂体内的分布不同,提示前体的处理过程可能具有 Recently, two peptides related to β-endorphin (β-endorphin_ (1-31)) were found in the pituitary: C’-segment (β-endorphin_ (1-27) -decaperated histidine derivatives (β-endorphin_ (1-26)). Both peptides and [beta] -endorphin are also present in [alpha], N-acetylated form. Thus, six peptides can be derived from one precursor by different proteolytic cleavage and acetylation processes. The distribution of different forms of beta-endorphin in the pituitary gland suggests that the precursor treatment may have