Abstract
The presence of a distinct tertiary structure in aqueous solutions of human .beta.-endorphin was demonstrated by difference absorption spectroscopy of thermolysin digests of the hormone and synthetic analogs. The .alpha.-amino group of Tyr1, Lys28 and some residue(s) between Thr6 and Ser110 are involved in forming and stabilizing the folded form of the molecule. Although a peptide corresponding to the first 9 residues of human .beta.-endorphin shows definite evidence of tertiary structure, the pentapeptide methionine-enkephalin does not.

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