Inventors:
Richard Jacobsen - Menlo Park CA
Elsie Jimenez - Quezon, PH
Lourdes J. Cruz - Salt Lake City UT
Baldomero M. Olivera - Salt Lake City UT
William R. Gray - Salt Lake City UT
Michelle Grilley - Seattle WA
Maren Watkins - Salt Lake City UT
David R. Hillyard - Salt Lake City UT
Assignee:
University of Utah Research Foundation - Salt Lake City UT
International Classification:
C07H 2104
Abstract:
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.