neact@xxxxxxxxxxxxx writes: >Hello All, > >Does anyone know what the suffix -orphin means? (Exorphins, endorphins...) >I "Googled" it and was unsuccessful in my search. Cary - [ http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=endorphin&allowed_in_frame=0 ]endorphin (n.) 1975, from French endorphine, from endogène "endogenous, growing within" (see [ http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=endo-&allowed_in_frame=0 ]endo- + [ http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=genus&allowed_in_frame=0 ]genus) + (mo)rphine. Looks like -"orphin" did not have a specific chemical meaning as a suffix, but instead started with the word "endorphin" and then was modifed from there to fit other similar compounds like exorphins. According to Wikipedia "Endorphins ("endogenous morphine") are [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endogenous ]endogenous [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opioid ]opioid [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peptide ]peptides that function as [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neurotransmitters ]neurotransmitters.[1] ". So the "-rphine" ending refers to the opiate qualities of endorphins. You might find more if you looked at the history of the discovery of endorphins. I don't know enough biochemistry to help you out any further. Sue Klemmer
