The protein encoded by this gene is a preproprotein that is proteolytically processed to form the secreted opioid peptides beta-neoendorphin, dynorphin, leu-enkephalin, rimorphin, and leumorphin. These peptides are ligands for the kappa-type of opioid receptor. Dynorphin is involved in modulating responses to several psychoactive substances, including cocaine. Multiple alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding the same protein have been found for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2010].
Qi, Liu, Yi, Wu, Liu, Zhao, Shi, Ma, Wu: "Warming Moxibustion Relieves Chronic Visceral Hyperalgesia in Rats: Relations to Spinal Dynorphin and Orphanin-FQ System." in: Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM, Vol. 2013, pp. 920675, (2013) (PubMed).
Yang, Zheng, Cai, Liao, Yuan, Liu: "Controlled-release levodopa methyl ester/benserazide-loaded nanoparticles ameliorate levodopa-induced dyskinesia in rats." in: International journal of nanomedicine, Vol. 7, pp. 2077-86, (2012) (PubMed).
Moffett, Fray, Kubat: "Activation of endogenous opioid gene expression in human keratinocytes and fibroblasts by pulsed radiofrequency energy fields." in: Journal of pain research, Vol. 5, pp. 347-57, (2012) (PubMed).