Urocortin proteins and uses thereof
US7638607B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 5, 2007 |
| Grant date | Dec 29, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 12, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61K39/00
- WIPO fieldPharmaceuticals
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A human urocortin-related peptide with significant sequence homology to the CRF neuropeptide family was identified. A mouse CDNA was isolated from whole brain poly (A+) RNA that encodes a predicted 38 amino acid peptide protein designated herein as urocortin II. Both human URP and mouse Ucn II are structurally related to the other known mammalian family members, CRF and urocortin (Ucn). These peptides are involved in the regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis under basal and stress conditions, suggesting a similar role for URP and Ucn IL Synthesized Ucn-II and URP peptide binds with higher affinity to CRF-R2 than to CRF-R1 Ucn II and human URP appear to be involved in the regulation of body temperature and appetite and may play a role in other stress related phenomenon. These findings identify Ucn II and human URP as a new members of the CRF family of neuropeptides, which are expressed centrally and bind to CRF-R2.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.