α-MSH related compounds and methods of use
The invention provides polypeptides containing α-MSH that can be used to treat diseases characterized by inflammation and/or autoimmunity. Also included in the invention are α-MSH analogs and nucleic acids encoding polypeptides containing α-MSH and α-MSH analogs optionally linked to heterologous sequences. Also included in the invention are methods of delivering α-MSH containing peptides, α-MSH analogs, an DNA encoding α-MSH and α-MSH analogs.
1. A nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a fusion polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence MPRSCCSRSGALLLALLLQASMEVRGWCLESSQCQDLTTESNLLECIRACKPR EGKRSYSMEHFRWGKPV (SEQ ID NO:42).
2. A nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a fusion polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence MPRSCCSRSGALLLALLLQASMEVRGWCLESSQCQDLTTESNLLECIRACKPR EGKRSYSMEHFRWGKPVG (SEQ ID NO:47).
3. A nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a fusion polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence MPRSCCSRSGALLLALLLQASMEVRGWCLESSQCQDLTTESNLLECIRACKPR EGKRSYSMEHFRWGKPVGKK (SEQ ID NO:49).
4. A nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a fusion polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence MPRSCCSRSGALLLALLLQASMEVRGWCLESSQCQDLTTESNLLECIRACKPR EGKRSYSMEHFRWGKPVGKKR (SEQ ID NO:51).
5. An expression vector comprising the nucleic acid of claim 1 .
6. An expression vector comprising the nucleic acid of claim 2 .
7. An expression vector comprising the nucleic acid of claim 3 .
8. An expression vector comprising the nucleic acid of claim 4 .
9. A fusion polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence MPRSCCSRSGALLLALLLQASMEVRGWCLESSQCQDLTTESNLLECIRACKPREGKRSY SMEHFRWGKPV (SEQ ID NO:42).
10. A fusion polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence MPRSCCSRSGALLLALLLQASMEVRGWCLESSQCQDLTTESNLLECIRACKPREGKRSY SMEHFRWGKPVG (SEQ ID NO:47).
11. A fusion polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence MPRSCCSRSGALLLALLLQASMEVRGWCLESSQCQDLTTESNLLECIRACKPREGKRSY SMEHFRWGKPVGKK (SEQ ID NO:49).
12. A fusion polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence MPRSCCSRSGALLLALLLQASMEVRGWCLESSQCQDLTTESNLLECIRACKPREGKRSY SMEHFRWGKPVGKKR (SEQ ID NO:51).