Single chain analogs of the TGF-.beta. superfamily (morphons)
US6040431A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 7, 1995 |
| Grant date | Mar 21, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 7, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC07K14/575
- WIPO fieldBiotechnology
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Disclosed are a family of single-chain polypeptide constructs designed to agonize or mimic members of the TGF-.beta. superfamily by binding to a cell surface receptor complementary to the superfamily member. The single-chain constructs of the invention called "morphons" contain in a single biologically active subunit interacting finger and heel regions which together define a tertiary protein structure complimentary to the ligand binding surface of a receptor that binds a TGF-.beta. superfamily member. Also disclosed are truncated versions of the morphon constructs. Methods are disclosed for making and using single-chain morphons that have binding affinity for predetermined receptors of the TGF-.beta. superfamily.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.