Fragments of growth hormone binding protein

1. A polypeptide that binds to growth hormone, wherein the polypeptide comprises a peptide comprising the peptide of SEQ ID NO: 5 or the corresponding amino acid sequence from a non-human primate, a horse, a pig, a cow, a sheep, a chicken, a dog, a cat, a rat, a mouse, or a rabbit growth hormone receptor; and

the peptide of SEQ ID NO: 6 or the corresponding amino acid sequence from a non-human primate, a horse, a pig, a cow, a sheep, a chicken, a dog, a cat, a rat, a mouse, or a rabbit growth hormone receptor; and

wherein the SEQ ID NO: 5, or the corresponding amino acid sequence from a non-human primate, horse, pig, cow, sheep, chicken, dog, cat, rat, mouse or rabbit growth hormone receptor and SEQ ID NO: 6 or the corresponding amino acid sequence from a non-human primate, horse, pig, cow, sheep, chicken, dog, cat, rat, mouse or rabbit growth hormone receptor; are bridged by the peptide YCIGKCFS (amino acids 7-14 of SEQ ID NO: 7) or YGS; and

wherein the polypeptide has a sequence that differs from a wild-type fragment of a GHBP from a human, non-human primate, horse, pig, cow, sheep, chicken, dog, cat, rat, mouse, or rabbit growth hormone receptor.

2. The polypeptide of claim 1 wherein the polypeptide consists of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting SEQ ID NO: 7 and SEQ ID NO: 8.

3. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutic effective amount of any one of the polypeptides of claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient.

4. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 3 , comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient selected from the group consisting of a buffer, a preservative, a lubricating agent, a wetting agents, an emulsifying agent, a suspending agent, a sweetening agent, and a flavoring agent.

5. A substantially pure polypeptide that binds to growth hormone, wherein the polypeptide comprises

SEQ ID NO: 5 or the corresponding amino acid sequence from a non-human primate, a horse, a pig, a cow, a sheep, a chicken a dog, a cat, a rat, a mouse, or a rabbit growth hormone receptor; and

the peptide of SEQ ID NO: 6 or the corresponding amino acid sequence from a non-human primate, a horse, a pig, a cow, a sheep, a chicken, a dog, a cat, a rat, a mouse, or a rabbit growth hormone receptor,

wherein the SEQ ID NO: 5, or the corresponding amino acid sequence from a non-human primate, horse, pig, cow, sheep, chicken, dog, cat, rat, mouse or rabbit growth hormone receptor and SEQ ID NO: 6 or, the corresponding amino acid sequence from a non-human primate, horse, pig, cow, sheep, chicken, dog, cat, rat, mouse or rabbit growth hormone receptor are bridged by the peptide YCIGKCFS (amino acids 7-14 of SEQ ID NO: 7) or YGS; and

wherein the polypeptide has a sequence that differs from a wild-type fragment of a GHBP from a human, non-human primate, horse, pig, cow, sheep, chicken, dog, cat, rat, mouse, or rabbit growth hormone receptor,

wherein the polypeptide is selected from a chemically synthesized polypeptide or a recombinant polypeptide,

wherein the polypeptide and has a sequence that differs from a wild-type fragment of a GHBP, and

wherein the polypeptide is covalently or non-covalently bound to a larger carrier protein.

6. The substantially pure polypeptide of claim 5 wherein the peptide consists of an amino acid sequence of sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 7 and SEQ ID NO: 8.

7. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutic effective amount of a substantially pure polypeptide of claim 5 and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable excipient is selected from the group consisting of a buffer, a preservative, a lubricating agent, a wetting agents, an emulsifying agent, a suspending agent, a sweetening agent, and a flavoring agent, wherein the substantially pure polypeptide is lyophilized.

8. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 7 , further comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient.

9. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 3 or claim 8 , wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier comprises a liposome, a nanoparticle or a carrier protein.

10. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 9 , further comprising a growth hormone polypeptide or fragment thereof.

11. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 10 , wherein the growth hormone polypeptide is recombinant.

12. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 6 , wherein the growth hormone polypeptide is human growth hormone.

13. A pharmaceutical composition comprising:

(a) a therapeutic effective amount of a polypeptide that binds to growth hormone, wherein the polypeptide comprises:

(i) SEQ ID NO: 5 or the corresponding amino acid sequence from a non-human primate, a horse, a pig, a cow, a sheep, a chicken, a dog, a cat, a rat, a mouse, or a rabbit growth hormone receptor; and

(ii) the peptide of SEQ ID NO: 6 or the corresponding amino acid sequence from a non-human primate, a horse, a pig, a cow, a sheep, a chicken, a dog, a cat, a rat, a mouse, or a rabbit growth hormone receptor;

wherein the SEQ ID NO: 5, or the corresponding amino acid sequence from a non-human primate, horse, pig, cow, sheep, chicken, dog, cat, rat, mouse or rabbit growth hormone receptor and SEQ ID NO: 6 or, the corresponding amino acid sequence from a non-human primate, horse, pig, cow, sheep, chicken, dog, cat, rat, mouse or rabbit growth hormone receptor are bridged by the peptide YCIGKCFS (amino acids 7-14 of SEQ ID NO: 7) or YGS; and

(b) a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient,

wherein the polypeptide and has a sequence that differs from a wild-type fragment of a GHBP from a human, non-human primate, horse, pig, cow, sheep, chicken, dog, cat, rat, mouse, or rabbit growth hormone receptor.

14. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 13 , wherein the peptide consists of an amino acid sequence of sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 7 and SEQ ID NO: 8.