University of Utah Research Foundation

Other

University of California

The Salk Institute

Elsie C Jimenez

Baldomero M Olivera

Lourdes J Cruz

David R Hillyard

Maren Watkins

William R Gray

J Michael McIntosh

Craig S Walker

Gregory S Shen

Richard Jacobsen

Michelle Grilley

Jean E Rivier

Robert M Jones

David J Julius

R Tyler McCabe

Li-Ming Zhou

Richard T Layer

A Grey Craig

Reshma Shetty

Laura England

Clark Colledge

Fe C Abogadie

Jean A Rivier

The invention relates to relatively short peptides (termed I-conotoxins herein), about 30-50 residues in length, which are naturally available in minute amounts in the venom of the cone snails or analogous to the naturally available peptides, and which preferably include four disulfide bonds.

I-superfamily conotoxins

The present invention is directed to conantokin peptides, conantokin peptide derivatives and conantokin peptide chimeras, referred to collectively as conantokins, having 10-30 amino acids, including preferably two or more &ggr;-carboxyglutamic acid residues. The conantokins are useful for the treatment of neurologic and psychiatric disorders, such as anticonvulsant agents, neuroprotective agents or analgesic agents.

Conantokins

The present invention is directed to contryphan peptides having 6-12 amino acids, preferably including one or more D-tryptophan residues. More specifically, the present invention is directed to contryphan peptides having the general formula Xaa -Cys-Xaa -Xaa -Glu-Pro-Trp-Cys (SEQ ID NO:1), wherein Xaa is Gly or des-Xaa , Xaa is Pro or 4-trans-hydroxyproline and Xaa is D-Trp or L-Trp, preferably D-Trp. The present invention is further directed to the peptides contryphan R and des-Gly contryphan R. In contryphan R, Xaa is Gly and Xaa is D-Trp. These contryphans are useful as anticonvulsant or neuroprotective agents.

Contryphan peptides

The present invention is directed to contryphan peptides having 6-12 amino acids, preferably including one or more D-tryptophan or D-leucine residues. The peptides of the present invention are generically termed 'contryphans,' although the D-leucine containing contryphans are sometimes referred to as leu-contryphans. More specifically, the present invention is directed to contryphan peptides having the general formula Xaa.sub.1 -Cys-Xaa.sub.2 -Xaa.sub.3 -Xaa.sub.4 -Pro-Xaa.sub.5 -Cys (SEQ ID NO:1), wherein Xaa.sub.1 is any amino acid or des-Xaa.sub.1, Xaa.sub.2 is Pro, 4-trans-hydroxyproline or Val, Xaa.sub.3 is D-Trp, L-Trp, D-Leu or L-Leu, preferably D-Trp or D-Leu, Xaa.sub.4 is any amino acid and Xaa.sub.5 is Trp or Tyr. When the peptide contains Xaa.sub.1, it is preferably Gly, Glu, or Lys, most preferably Gly. When Xaa.sub.3 is D- or L-Trp, Xaa.sub.2 is preferably Pro or 4-trans-hydroxyproline. When Xaa.sub.3 is D- or L-Leu, Xaa.sub.2 is preferably Val. The carboxy terminus may contain a carboxyl or an amide, preferably an amide. The present invention is further directed to the specific contryphan peptides and propeptides as described herein. The present invention is also directed to nucleic acids encoding the contryphan peptides and their propeptides as described herein. The contryphans of the present invention are useful as anticonvulsant or neuroprotective agents.

The present invention is directed to contryphan peptides having 6-12 amino acids, preferably including one or more D-tryptophan or D-leucine residues. The peptides of the present invention are generically termed 'contryphans,' although the D-leucine containing contryphans are sometimes referred to as leu-contryphans. More specifically, the present invention is directed to contryphan peptides having the general formula Xaa.sub.1 -Cys-Xaa.sub.2 -Xaa.sub.3 -Xaa.sub.4 -Pro-Xaa.sub.5 -Cys (SEQ ID NO:1), wherein Xaa.sub.1, is any amino acid or des-Xaa.sub.1, Xaa.sub.2 is Pro, 4-trans-hydroxyproline or Val, Xaa.sub.3 is D-Trp, L-Trp, D-Leu or L-Leu, preferably D-Trp or D-Leu, Xaa.sub.4 is any amino acid and Xaa.sub.5 is Trp or Tyr. When the peptide contains Xaa.sub.1, it is preferably Gly, Glu, or Lys, most preferably Gly. When Xaa.sub.3 is D- or L-Trp, Xaa.sub.2 is preferably Pro or 4-trans-hydroxyproline. When Xaa.sub.3 is D- or L-Leu, Xaa.sub.2 is preferably Val. The carboxy terminus may contain a carboxyl or an amide, preferably an amide. The present invention is further directed to the specific contryphan peptides and propeptides as described herein. The present invention is also directed to nucleic acids encoding the contryphan peptides and their propeptides as described herein. The contryphans of the present invention are useful as anticonvulsant or neuroprotective agents.

The present invention is directed to conopeptides having 6-45 amino acids, including one or more bromo-tryptophan residues. More specifically, the present invention is directed to conopeptides having the general formula: R-(Cys).sub.n -R.sup.1 -B-R.sup.2 -Cys-R.sup.3, wherein R is a peptide chain of 0-24 amino acids, R.sup.1 is a peptide chain of 0 to 31 amino acids, R.sup.2 is a peptide chain of 0-29 amino acids, R.sup.3 is a peptide chain of 0 to 26 amino acids, B is 6-bromo-tryptophan, n is 0 or 1 and the total length of the conopeptide is from about 6 to about 45 amino acids. The invention also includes pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the conopeptides. These bromo-tryptophan containing conopeptides invention are useful as antihelminthic agents, anti-vomiting agents, sleep-inducing agents, adjuncts to anesthesia, anticonvulsant or neuroprotective agents.

Bromo-tryptophan conopeptides

Growing community of inventors

Quezon, Philippines

Elsie C Jimenez