Glycoprotein hormone compositions containing two β subunits

Abstract

Forms of differentially acting glycoprotein hormones are disclosed. These compositions are of the formula β1-(linker1)m-α-(linker2)n-β2;  (1) β1-(linker1)m-β2-(linker2)n-α;  (2) α-(linker1)m-β1-(linker2)n-β2;  (3) β2≈α-(linker)m-β1; or  (4) β1-(linker)m-α≈β2  (5) wherein each of β1 and β2 has the amino acid sequence of the β subunit of a vertebrate glycoprotein hormone or a variant of said amino acid sequence, as variants are defined herein. “α” designates the α subunit of a vertebrate glycoprotein hormone or a variant thereof, “linker” refers to a covalently linked moiety that spaces the β1 and β2 subunits at appropriate distances from the α subunit and from each other. “≈” is a noncovalent link. Each of m and n is independently 0 or 1.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.