Met enkephalin

or Met-en·keph·a·lin

[met]

noun (sometimes lowercase)

See under enkephalin.

Origin of Met enkephalin

First recorded in 1975–80

enkephalin

[en-kef-uh-lin]

noun Biochemistry.

either of two pentapeptides that bind to morphine receptors in the central nervous system and have opioid properties of relatively short duration; one pentapeptide (Met enkephalin) has the amino acid sequence Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Met and the other (Leu enkephalin) has the sequence Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Leu.

Origin of enkephalin

1970–75; < Greek enképhal(os) encephalon + -in²

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for metenkephalin

enkephalin

encephalin (ɛnˈsɛfəlɪn)

noun

a chemical occurring in the brain, having effects similar to those of morphineSee also endorphin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medicine definitions for metenkephalin

metenkephalin

[mĕt′ĕn-kĕf′ə-lĭn]

n.

An enkephalin that has a terminal methionine residue and occurs naturally as one of two such pentapeptides that are formed in the brain.

enkephalin

[ĕn-kĕf′ə-lĭn]

n.

Either of two closely related pentapeptides having opiate qualities and occurring especially in the brain and spinal cord.