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Dermorphin Peptide: Research Applications
Product Description
Dermorphin peptide is a high-purity synthetic heptapeptide (Tyr–D-Ala–Phe–Gly–Tyr–Pro–Ser) that has become a cornerstone in neuroscience research, particularly in studies of μ-opioid receptor (MOR) signaling and pain modulation. Originally isolated from amphibian skin, Dermorphin is renowned for its high selectivity and potent MOR agonist activity, offering a reliable tool for exploring opioid receptor pharmacology, neural circuitry, and analgesic mechanisms.
Supplied in lyophilized powder form, Dermorphin ensures long-term stability and reproducibility, making it suitable for in vitro and in vivo experiments. Its high purity (≥98%) allows precise pharmacological and behavioral assays, while batch-to-batch consistency is verified via HPLC and mass spectrometry. Dermorphin is widely used to investigate pain pathways, receptor dynamics, neuronal responses, and the pharmacological effects of opioid agonists.
Beyond its direct applications, Dermorphin serves as a benchmark peptide in receptor pharmacology research, aiding studies of biased agonism, receptor desensitization, and signal transduction, as well as supporting drug discovery and mechanistic investigations in neuroscience laboratories worldwide.
Product Specifications
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Product Name | Dermorphin Peptide |
| Peptide Sequence | Tyr–D-Ala–Phe–Gly–Tyr–Pro–Ser |
| Peptide Type | Synthetic heptapeptide |
| Molecular Weight | ~803.9 Da |
| Appearance | White to off-white lyophilized powder |
| Purity | ≥98% (HPLC) |
| Identity Confirmation | HPLC, MS |
| Endotoxin Level | <0.1 EU/mg |
| Solubility | Soluble in sterile water and standard buffers |
| Form | Lyophilized powder |
| Storage | −20 °C, dry, light-protected |
| Recommended Use | In vitro and in vivo neuroscience research |
| Application Focus | μ-opioid receptor signaling, pain research, GPCR pharmacology |
Mechanism of Action
Dermorphin peptide exhibits highly selective binding to μ-opioid receptors (MORs), which are G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) central to pain signaling and neuromodulation. Upon binding, Dermorphin activates Gi/o proteins, resulting in:
Inhibition of adenylyl cyclase, reducing intracellular cAMP levels
Opening of potassium channels, causing neuronal hyperpolarization
Closing of calcium channels, decreasing neurotransmitter release
These combined effects produce potent analgesic-like responses in experimental models. Dermorphin’s high selectivity allows researchers to study MOR-specific pathways without confounding effects from δ- or κ-opioid receptors.
In addition to receptor activation, Dermorphin is instrumental in studies of receptor internalization, desensitization, and downstream signaling, providing insights into opioid tolerance mechanisms and receptor pharmacodynamics. This precise pharmacological profile makes it suitable for both in vitro receptor assays and in vivo behavioral experiments, supporting reproducible and meaningful scientific data.
Applications
Dermorphin peptide is applied in a wide range of neuroscience and pharmacological research:
Pain signaling studies: Utilized in rodent models to evaluate nociceptive pathways, analgesic responses, and MOR-specific modulation.
Neuropharmacology assays: Acts as a selective MOR agonist in cell lines and neuronal cultures to investigate receptor signaling and desensitization.
GPCR research: Serves as a model compound to study receptor-ligand interactions, biased agonism, and pharmacodynamics.
Neurophysiology: Applied in neuronal culture systems and brain slices to measure electrophysiological changes following MOR activation.
Drug development: Serves as a reference compound for screening novel MOR-targeting molecules or analgesics.
Behavioral neuroscience: Supports studies on opioid-mediated behavior, reward, and nociceptive responses.
Structure-activity relationships: Enables comparative studies with peptide analogues to evaluate pharmacological modifications.
Receptor internalization research: Investigates MOR trafficking, internalization, and recycling dynamics.
Comparative pharmacology: Used to contrast MOR-specific effects versus other opioid receptor ligands.
Multi-omic integration: Combined with transcriptomic, proteomic, or metabolomic studies for comprehensive mechanistic insights.
For researchers interested in obtaining Dermorphin peptide for experimental use, see our product page for bulk supply and COA documentation.
Dermorphin’s versatility and reproducible potency make it an essential tool for laboratories exploring opioid receptor biology, neural signaling pathways, and analgesic drug development.
Research Models
In vitro: Primary neuronal cultures, MOR-expressing cell lines, receptor binding assays
In vivo: Rodent nociception and pain models, behavioral assays, pharmacological studies
Ex vivo: Brain or spinal cord slices for electrophysiology
Multi-omic approaches: Integration with transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics
Detailed batch information and research-grade peptide specifications can be found on our Dermorphin peptide product page.
Experimental Design Considerations
Reconstitution: Use sterile water or physiological buffers; avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles
Dosage: Follow literature-recommended concentrations for in vitro or in vivo models
Controls: Include MOR antagonists or vehicle controls to validate specificity
Batch consistency: Ensure experiments use the same batch COA for reproducibility
Ethical compliance: All in vivo studies must follow institutional animal care and ethics guidelines
For batch information and COA verification, see our product page.
Laboratory Safety & Handling Guidelines
Wear appropriate PPE: lab coat, gloves, and eye protection
Handle in compliance with institutional safety protocols
Avoid ingestion, inhalation, or skin contact
Dispose of peptide waste according to hazardous material regulations
Store at −20 °C, dry, light-protected
Integration with Multi-Omic & Computational Studies
Dermorphin peptide experiments can be integrated with multi-omic datasets to investigate MOR-related pathways. Computational modeling of ligand-receptor interactions enables prediction of downstream signaling effects, receptor dynamics, and biased agonism. These approaches facilitate mechanistic understanding and hypothesis-driven research in opioid pharmacology.
FAQs
1. What is Dermorphin peptide and why is it important in neuroscience research?
Dermorphin is a synthetic heptapeptide with high selectivity for μ-opioid receptors. It is widely used to study pain signaling, receptor pharmacology, and neural circuitry due to its potent and specific activity.
2. What is the amino acid sequence of Dermorphin?
The sequence is Tyr–D-Ala–Phe–Gly–Tyr–Pro–Ser. Its structure underlies its high affinity and selectivity for μ-opioid receptors.
3. How does Dermorphin interact with μ-opioid receptors?
Dermorphin binds to MORs, activating Gi/o proteins, which inhibits adenylyl cyclase, opens potassium channels, and closes calcium channels, resulting in decreased neuronal excitability and analgesic-like effects in models.
4. Can Dermorphin be used to study receptor internalization and desensitization?
Yes, its selective MOR binding allows researchers to examine receptor trafficking, internalization, desensitization, and signal transduction pathways in vitro and ex vivo.
5. What types of experimental models are suitable for Dermorphin studies?
Dermorphin is used in neuronal culture assays, MOR-expressing cell lines, brain or spinal cord slices, and rodent behavioral models for nociception, pain, or reward studies.
6. How does Dermorphin contribute to GPCR pharmacology research?
As a selective MOR agonist, Dermorphin is a model compound for exploring GPCR signaling, biased agonism, ligand-receptor interactions, and downstream pathway activation.
7. Is Dermorphin compatible with electrophysiological studies?
Yes, it can be applied to brain slices or cultured neurons to measure hyperpolarization, ion channel activity, and synaptic responses associated with MOR activation.
8. Can Dermorphin be used in multi-omic studies?
Absolutely. Dermorphin treatment can be integrated with transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics to explore changes in gene expression, protein activity, or metabolic pathways related to MOR signaling.
9. What precautions should be taken in experimental design using Dermorphin?
Use consistent batch sources for reproducibility, include appropriate controls, follow dosage recommendations from literature, and comply with ethical standards for in vivo experiments.
10. How can Dermorphin help in understanding analgesic mechanisms?
By selectively activating μ-opioid receptors, Dermorphin allows researchers to dissect specific analgesic pathways, receptor pharmacodynamics, and signal transduction processes, contributing to pain research and therapeutic studies.
