Hepatocyte growth factor fragments that function as potent met receptor agonists and antagonists
AssigneeThe Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
InventorsJennifer R. Cochran, Douglas S. Jones, II, Ping-Chuan Tsai
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Abstract
The NK1 fragment of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) binds to and activates the Met receptor, a transmembrane receptor tyrosine kinase that plays a critical role in embryonic development and organ formation. The instant application discloses NK1 variant polypeptides which act as agonists or antagonists of HGF. Further disclosed are covalently linked NK1 variant polypeptides. Many of the disclosed variant polypeptides possess improved stability characteristics.
Claims22
-13. (canceled)
A dimer comprising a first human NK1 (hNK1) variant polypeptide and a second hNK1 variant polypeptide, wherein the first hNK1 variant polypeptide comprises a first linker and the second hNK1 polypeptide comprises a second linker, wherein the first linker comprises at least one cysteine residue and the second linker comprises a moiety reactive with a sulfhydryl group of the cysteine, wherein the dimer is formed by the reaction of cysteine with the moiety reactive with the sulfhydryl group.
-17. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.