Abstract: A physiologically active polypeptide derived from human brain and a DNA fragment comprising the base sequence encoding the polypeptide are disclosed. The polypeptide possesses excellent smooth muscle relaxation activity, diuretic or natriuretic activity, and vasodepressor activity, and is thus useful as a medicine for curing circulation diseases, e.g. cardiac edema, nephric edema, hepatic edema, pulmonary edema, hypertension, congestive heart failure, and acute and chronic renal failure.

Abstract: A C-terminal &agr;-amidating enzyme of Xenopus laevis and precursor thereof produced by a recombinant DNA technique; a DNA coding for the enzyme or precursor thereof; a plasmid containing the DNA; a host organism transformed with the plasmid; a process for production of the enzyme using the transformant; and a process for production of a C-terminal &agr;-amidated peptide using the enzyme.

Abstract: The gene and cDNA of a procine derived CNP (C-type natriuretic peptide), and a procine derived CNP precursor protein and derivatives thereof are disclosed. The proceine derivative CNP precursor is represented by the following amino acid sequence:Met His Leu Ser Gln Leu Leu Ala Cys Ala - Leu Leu Leu Thr Leu Leu Ser Leu Arg Pro - Ser Glu Ala Lys Pro Gly Ala Pro Pro Lys - Val Pro Arg Thr Pro Pro Gly Glu Glu Val - Ala Glu Pro Gln Ala Ala Gly Gly Gly Gln - Lys Lys Gly Asp Lys Thr Pro Gly Gly Gly - Gly Ala Asn Leu Lys Gly Asp Arg Ser Arg - Leu Leu Arg Asp Leu Arg Val Asp Thr Lys - Ser Arg Ala Ala Trp Ala Arg Leu Leu His - Glu His Pro Asn Ala Arg Lys Tyr Lys Gly - Gly Asn Lys Lys Gly Leu Ser Lys Gly Cys - Phe Gly Leu Lys Leu Asp Arg Ile Gly SerThese derivatives are novel and have natriuretic and hypotensive activities.

Abstract: A C-terminal .alpha.-amidating enzyme of Xenopus laevis and precursor thereof produced by a recombinant DNA technique; a DNA coding for the enzyme or precursor thereof; a plasmid containing the DNA; a host organism transformed with the plasmid; a process for production of the enzyme using the transformant; and a process for production of a C-terminal .alpha.-amidated peptide using the enzyme.

Abstract: Novel peptides represented by the general formula: ##STR1## and physiologically acceptable acid addition salts thereof; where (A) represents H-, H-Gly, H-Lys-Gly, H-Ser-Lys-Gly, H-Leu-Ser-Lys-Gly, H-Gly-Leu-Ser-Lys-Gly, H-ser, H-Ser-Ser, H-Arg-Ser-Ser, H-Arg-Arg-Ser-Ser, H-Leu-Arg-Arg-Ser-Ser, H-Ser-Leu-Arg-Arg-Ser-Ser;(B) represents H-Cys or Pmp;(C) represents Phe-, pCl-Phe, pF-Phe, pNO.sub.2 -Phe or Cha;(D) represents Ile, Val, Aib, tLeu, Gly or Leu;(E) represents Lys or Arg;(F) represents Ile, Leu or Met;(G) represents Ser or Ala;(H) represents Met or Gln;(I) represents --OH, -Asn-OH, -Asn-Ser-OH, -Asn-Ser-Phe-OH, -Asn-Ser-Phe-Arg-OH or -Asn-Ser-Phe-Arg-Tyr-OH; and the symbol " . . . " represents a disulfide bond;provided that 1) .alpha.-hANP, 2) .alpha.-hANP (7-28) and 3) CNP-22 are excluded from the scope of that general formula.Also disclosed are agents for suppressing the growth of vascular smooth muscle cells that contains those peptides as effective ingredients.

Abstract: The invention relates to a C-terminal .alpha.-amidating enzyme of porcine origin having the following properties: (1) the action is on a peptide or protein represented by the formula:X-R-Gly,wherein Gly represents a C-terminal glycine residue, R represents an amino acid residue to be .alpha.-amidated, and X represents a remaining portion of the peptide or protein to convert it to a peptide or protein represented by the formula:X-R-NH.sub.2,wherein R-NH.sub.2 represents a C-terminal .alpha.-amidated amino acid residue and X represents a remaining portion of the peptide or protein; (2) the optimal pH is 6.5 to 8.5; (3) the molecular weight is about 92,000 as determined by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis; and (4) it contains the following peptide fragment:. . . Glu-Ala-Pro-Leu-Leu-Ile-Leu-Gly . . . .Further, the invention relates to a process for the production of the C-terminal .alpha.

Abstract: There are disclosed a new peptide .alpha.-hANP of the following structure: ##STR1## and acid addition salt thereof; a diuretic composition and a hypotensor composition containing the .alpha.-hANP or an acid addition salt thereof; and processes for the production thereof.

Abstract: A peptide composed of 53 amino acid residues represented by the following amino acid sequence: (see SEQ ID NO: 1) ##STR1## and derivatives thereof represented by the following amino acid sequence: (see SEQ ID NO: 2) ##STR2## wherein X is as shown in the specification, are disclosed. These polypeptides are novel and have natriuretic and hypotensive actions.

Abstract: A novel peptide that exhibits a natriuretic action and a vasodepressor activity, and hence, that is applicable as a diagnostic reagent. The novel peptide is manufactured by the procedure of genetic engineering as well as by the methods of purification from chicken brains or by chemical synthesis.

Abstract: A novel peptide that exhibits a natriuretic action and a vasodepressor activity, and hence, that is applicable for a diagnostic reagent. The novel peptide is manufactured by tile procedure of genetic engineering as well as by the methods of purification from frog brains or by chemical synthesis.

Abstract: A KEX2 endoprotease produced by a recombinant DNA technique, a KEX2 endoprotease shortened at the C-terminal of a native enzyme and still containing a C-terminal hydrophobic region, a soluble KEX2 endoprotease without a C-terminal hydrophobic region; DNA's coding for the above-mentioned enzymes; expression plasmids containing the DNA; hosts transformed with the plasmid; a process for production of the above-mentioned enzymes using the transformed host; and a process for production of biologically active polypeptide using the above-mentioned enzyme.

Abstract: A KEX2 endoprotease produced by a recombinant DNA technique, a KEX2 endoprotease shortened at the C-terminal of a native enzyme and still containing a C-terminal hydrophobic region, a soluble KEX2 endoprotease without a C-terminal hydrophobic region; DNA's coding for the above-mentioned enzymes; expression plasmids containing the DNA; hosts transformed with the plasmid; a process for production of the above-mentioned enzymes using the transformed host; and a process for production of biologically active polypeptide using the above-mentioned enzyme.

Abstract: C-terminal .alpha.-amidating enzyme preparations, including preparations AE-I, AE-II, AE-IIa and AE-IIb, from the skin of Xenopus laevis, wherein all components can convert a peptide having a glycine residue at its C-terminal to a C-terminal amidated peptide lacking the glycine residue, and have a common N-terminal amino acid sequence represented by Ser-Leu-Ser---, and AE-I and AE-IIa have a molecular weight of about 39,000, AE-IIb has a molecular weight of about 34,000, and AE-II comprises two components having molecular weight of about 39,000 and 34,000; a process for production of the above-mentioned enzyme preparations; and a process for .alpha.-amidation of a peptide by using the above mentioned enzyme preparations.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a physiologically-active peptide represented by the following general formula (I): ##STR1## wherein X means H or H-Asp-Ser-Gly- and Y denotes -Asn-Val-Leu-Arg-Arg-Tyr-OH, -Asn-Val-Leu-Arg-Arg-OH, -Asn-Val-Leu-Arg-Tyr-OH, -Asn-Val-Leu-Arg-OH, -Asn-Val-Leu-OH or -Asn-Ser-Phe-Arg-Tyr-OH, or a salt thereof.

Abstract: There are disclosed a new peptide .alpha.-hANP of the following structure: ##STR1## and acid addition salt thereof; a diuretic composition and a hypotensor composition containing the .alpha.-hANP or an acid addition salt thereof; and processes for the production thereof.

Abstract: There are disclosed a new peptide .beta.-rANP of the following structure: ##STR1## and acid addition salt thereof; a diuretic composition and a hypotensor composition containing the .beta.-rANP or an acid addition salt thereof; and processes for the production thereof.

Abstract: There are disclosed a new peptide .beta.-hANP of the following structure: ##STR1## and acid addition salt thereof; a diuretic composition and a hypotensor composition containing a .beta.-hANP or an acid addition salt thereof; and processes for the production thereof.