Bovine Adrenal Medulla（BAM）

Bovine adreno medulla (BAM) peptide is a peptide released by the adrenal glands, which is a cleavage product of the opioid peptide proenkephalin. It is expressed primarily in the central nervous system and has potent opioid activity. Originally isolated from the bovine adrenal medulla, BAM peptide can be digested with trypsin to produce another enkephalin peptide-Met Enkephalin. BAM12P, 20P, and 22P are the three distinct BAM peptides that have been identified so far.

BAM 22P is a 22-aa peptide with high affinity for opioid receptors and sensory neuron-specific receptors (SNSRs). Two shortened C-terminal versions of BAM 22P exist: BAM 20P and BAM 12. Normally, BAM peptides link to opioid receptors on nerve cells to initiate an action. For example, BAM22P binds to G-protein coupled SNSRs and opioid receptors, activating them to produce a series of pain signals. BAM22P plays a protective role in the state by suppressing the bladder reflex, eliciting analgesic responses in mice, and reacting to stressors like shock or damage. It’s yet unknown what the other BAM peptides exactly do.