Amino acids and processes for making peptides using same

US5710249A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Salk Institute for Biological Studies · US

Inventors

• Carl A. Hoeger · San Marcos, US
• Jean E. F. Rivier · Village of La Jolla, US
• John S. Porter · Leucadia, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 6, 1995
• Grant date: Jan 20, 1998
• Expiry date: Jun 6, 2015

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02P20/55
• WIPO field: Pharmaceuticals
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Methods of making unnatural amino acids are provided which unnatural amino acids can be incorporated into peptides which either inhibit or promote the secretion of gonadotropins by the pituitary gland and inhibit the release of steroids by the gonads. These unnatural amino acids are useful in the synthesis of peptides and have the formula (a): ##STR1## where W is (CH.sub.2) or ##STR2## n is an integer from 1 to 6; j=1, 2 or 3, and preferably, Y is N--CN, X is NH and R.sub.2 is alkyl, modified alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl or methyl pyridyl. Disclosed are peptides that are analogs of the decapeptide GnRH wherein there is at least one residue of an unnatural amino acid in the 3-, 5-, 6- and/or 8-positions.