Multifunctional single chain glycoprotein hormones

Abstract

Glycosylated or nonglycosylated molecules of the formula β1-(linker1)n1-β2-(linker2)n2-β3-(linker3)n3-α  (1); β1-linker1)n1-β2-(linker2)n2-α-(linker3)n3-β3   (2); β1-(linker1)n1-α-(linker2)n2-β2-(linker3)n3-β3   (3); and α-(linker1)n1-β1-(linker2)n2-β2-(linker3)n3-β3   (4) wherein α is the α subunit of a vertebrate glycoprotein hormone or a variant thereof; each β is independently a glycoprotein β subunit or a variant thereof, each “linker” is a hydrophilic, flexible spacer equivalent to a peptide containing 1-100 amino acid residues; and each n is a 0 or 1; said compound optionally comprising one or more additional βx(linkerx)nx and/or one or more additional a subunits are useful in protocols to enhance fertility in humans and in animals.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.