The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 17, 1991
Filed:
Mar. 22, 1989
Joan Vaughan, San Diego, CA (US);
Wolfgang H Fischer, Solano Beach, CA (US);
Jean E Rivier, La Jolla, CA (US);
Jean-Louis M Nahon, San Diego, CA (US);
Francoise G Presse, San Diego, CA (US);
Wylie W Vale, Jr, La Jolla, CA (US);
The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, San Diego, CA (US);
Abstract
Mammalian melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) is isolated from rat tissue, purified and characterized. These MCH peptides are useful for treating skin disorders, for suppressing the proliferation of skin tumor cells, such as melanomas in mammals, and for modulating the secretion of ACTH. Generally, peptides are provided which have the following formula: ##STR1## or which are naturally occurring homologs of the peptide with said formula. The peptides which are the naturally occurring MCH homologs of mammalian species other than rat can also be obtained using the materials disclosed, as demonstrated specifically with human MCH, which is found to have the same structure as rat MCH. Also disclosed are the amino acid sequences of, and the nucleotide sequences of the cDNAs which encode, the putative precursors of rat MCH and human MCH. These precursors may also include one or more biologically active peptides N-terminally of the mature MCH's. Among these peptides, which are thought to be formed from the MCH precursors, are the peptide with the sequence H-Glu-Ile-Gly-Asp-Glu-Glu-Asn-Ser-Ala-Lys-Phe-Pro-Ile-NH.sub.2, which is cross-reactive with antibodies against alpha-MSH and CRF, and the peptide with the sequence H-Gly-X.sub.NGE -Phe-Pro-Ala-Glu-Asn-Gly-Val-Gln-Asn-Thr-Glu-Ser-Thr-Gln-Glu-OH, wherein X.sub.NGE is Pro-Ala-Val or Ser-Val-Ala, which is cross-reactive with antibodies against GRF.