Gluten exorphin

Gluten exorphines are a group of opioid peptides which are formed during digestion of the gluten protein. It has been hypothesized that children with autism have abnormal leakage from the gut of these compounds, which then pass into the brain and disrupt brain function. This is partly the basis for the gluten-free, casein-free diet. Studies of this diet have had important methodological flaws and the scientific evidence is not adequate to make treatment recommendations.

There are five known gluten exorphines with known structure:

Gluten exorphine A4

• Structure: H-Gly-Tyr-Tyr-Pro-OH
• Chemical formula: C₂₅H₃₀N₄O₇
• Molecular weight: 498.52 g/mol

Gluten exorphine A5

• Structure: H-Gly-Tyr-Tyr-Pro-Thr-OH
• Chemical formula: C₂₉H₃₇N₅O₉
• Molecular weight: 599.64 g/mol

Gluten exorphine B4

• Structure: H-Tyr-Gly-Gly-Trp-OH
• Chemical formula: C₂₄H₂₇N₅O₆
• Molecular weight: 481.50 g/mol

Gluten exorphine B5

• Structure: H-Tyr-Gly-Gly-Trp-Leu-OH
• Chemical formula: C₃₀H₃₈N₆O₇
• Molecular weight: 594.66 g/mol

Gluten exorphine C

• Structure: H-Tyr-Pro-Ile-Ser-Leu-OH
• Chemical formula: C₂₉H₄₅N₅O₈
• Molecular weight: 591.70 g/mol