Casomorphin

Bovine β-casomorphin 7, a casomorphin, has seven amino acids in its peptide sequence.

Casomorphins are peptides, i.e., protein fragments, derived from the digestion of milk protein casein.

Health

Digestive enzymes can break casein down into peptides that have some biological activity in cells and in laboratory animals though conclusive causal effects on humans have not been established. Although they have not yet been proven to be formed in the human digestive system, there are associations between serum levels of β -casomorphins and the risk of sudden infant death syndrome, histamine release, stimulation of food intake, specifically high-fat foods, and lymphocytosis.

Although research has shown high rates of use of complementary and alternative therapies for children with autism, including gluten and/or casein exclusion diets, as of 2008 there was a lack of evidence that these diets had any effect.

Some known casomorphins

β-Casomorphin 1-3

• Structure: H-Tyr-Pro-Phe-OH
• Chemical formula: C₂₃H₂₇N₃O₅
• Molecular weight: 425.48 g/mo

Bovine β-casomorphin 1-4

• Structure: H-Tyr-Pro-Phe-Pro-OH
• Chemical formula: C28H35N4O6
• Molecular weight: 522.61 g/mol

Bovine β-casomorphin 1-4, amide

• Structure: H-Tyr-Pro-Phe-Pro-NH₂
• Chemical formula: C₂₈H₃₅N₅O₅
• Molecular weight: 521.6 g/mol

Also known as morphiceptin

Bovine β-casomorphin 5

• Structure: H-Tyr-Pro-Phe-Pro-Gly-OH
• Chemical formula: C₃₀H₃₇N₅O₇
• Molecular weight: 594.66 g/mol

Bovine β-casomorphin 7

• Structure: H-Tyr-Pro-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro-Ile-OH
• Chemical formula: C₄₁H₅₅N₇O₉
• Molecular weight: 789.9 g/mol

Bovine β-casomorphin 8

• Structure: H-Tyr-Pro-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro-Ile-Pro-OH
• Chemical formula: C₄₆H₆₂N₈O₁₀
• Molecular weight: 887.00 g/mol

(Note: There is also a form of bovine β-Casomorphin 8 that has histidine instead of proline in position 8, depending on whether it is derived from A1 or A2 beta-casein.)