Abstract: Peptides of the formula: ##STR1## wherein: NH is the .alpha. amino group of amino acid AA.sup.1 ; ##STR2## is the carbonyl group of amino acid AA.sup.7 ; X is H--, ##STR3## GLU-VAL-, or VAL-TYR-HIS-GLU-VAL; Y is --OH, --NH.sub.2, or --PRO; AA.sup.1 is LYS, GLU, GLN, pGLU, .beta.ALA, PRO, PRO-OH, PIC, or AIB; AA.sup.2 is VAL, LEU, ILE, MET, or AIB; AA.sup.3 is ASP, TYR, GLU, HIS, or PHE; AA.sup.4 is VAL, MET, ILE, LEU, or AIB; AA.sup.5 is TYR, HIS, or GLU; AA.sup.6 is ALA, PRO, SER, .beta.ALA, PRO-OH, or AIB; and AA.sup.7 is VAL, LEU, ILE, or AIB;and salts thereof are claimed as effective blood pressure regulators. Further provided, are antibodies to these peptides, as well as diagnostic and therapeutic methods for blood pressure regulation.

Abstract: Method for preparing interferon, mRNA for interferon, and competent recombinant DNA containing dsDNA and cDNA from mRNA coding for mammalian interferon. The method employs crossing a mutant mammalian cell which is semiconstitutive for interferon with a cell derived from the same or different mammal having wild type gene(s) for interferon and for the regulation of interferon synthesis and desirably having phenotypic properties allowing for selection of the hybrid cells. The desired hybrid clones are then induced to produce IF mRNA, wherein the amounts of mRNA for interferon are greatly enhanced over the amounts normally obtained from wild type cell strains. The mRNA is employed to produce cDNA which codes for the mammalian interferon. The single stranded cDNA is employed as a template to prepare dsDNA which is then combined with a replicon recognized by a microorganism host to provide a recombinant DNA.