Abstract: The present invention relates to physiologically-active derivatized natural and recombinant mammalian and human proteins and polypeptides. The invention provides chemical methods for derivatizing natural and recombinantly-derived proteins or polypeptides containing cysteine residues, either naturally or through site specific mutageneses. The pharmaceutical compositions containing said derivatized proteins and/or polypeptides are formulated to provide stable, long-acting compositions of such proteins and/or polypeptides, previously difficult to achieve.

Abstract: The present invention relates to physiologically-active derivatized natural and recombinant mammalian and human proteins and polypeptides. The invention provides chemical methods for derivatizing natural and recombinantly-derived proteins or polypeptides containing cysteine residues, either naturally or through site specific mutageneses. The pharmaceutical compositions containing the derivatized proteins and/or polypeptides are formulated to provide stable, long-acting compositions of such proteins and/or polypeptides, previously difficult to achieve.

Abstract: Structural analogues of fibroblast growth factors have an amino acid sequence replacement in the ninth or tenth .beta.-strand of the factor, or the sequence that corresponds to the surface loop that connects the ninth and tenth .beta.-strands, such that the folding of the molecule is not significantly perturbed. Preferred analogues have the amino acid sequence replacement in the surface loop that extends from the ninth .beta.-strand to the tenth .beta.-strand and have the overall secondary and tertiary structure of the original factor, and bind to heparin and a member or members of the fibroblast growth factor receptor family with high affinity. In some embodiments, the analogues are prepared by replacing the surface loop sequence that connects the ninth and tenth .beta.-strand with another amino acid sequence such as a loop sequence from another structurally related fibroblast growth factor or an interleukin.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel fragments of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). The mitogenic potency of one of these bFGF fragments, identified as HBF-2 is about 25-50 fold less than that of native bFGF but at least 10.sup.3 -10.sup.4 fold more active than that of previously reported synthetic fragments of bFGF. Therefore, the present invention provides the shortest fragment of bFGF that retains substantial biologic activity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel chimeric fibroblast growth factors (FGF) wherein the alanine at amino acid 3 and serine 5 of native human recombinant basic fibroblast growth factor are replaced with glutamic acid. The N-terminus sequence of the present chimeric FGFs identify homology with that of human acidic fibroblast growth factor. The mitogenic properties of the native human recombinant basic FGF are exhibited by the present chimeric FGFs, and they are efficiently expressed in E. coli at significantly greater yields that previously reported. Novel variants of this new glu.sup.3,5 basic fibroblast growth factor, such as those in which cysteine 78 and cysteine 96 are replaced, e.g., with serine or other amino acids, to produce stabilized versions of the glu.sup.3,5 basic FGF and eliminate disulfide scrambled forms, are also described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel chimeric fibroblast growth factors (FGF) wherein the alanine at amino acid 3 and serine 5 of native human recombinant basic fibroblast growth factor are replaced with glutamic acid. The N-terminus sequence of the present chimeric FGFs identify homology with that of human acidic fibroblast growth factor. The mitogenic properties of the native human recombinant basic FGF are exhibited by the present chimeric FGFs, and they are efficiently expressed in E. coli at significantly greater yields that previously reported. Novel variants of this new glu.sup.3,5 basic fibroblast growth factor, such as those in which cysteine 78 and cysteine 96 are replaced, e.g., with serine or other amino acids, to produce stabilized versions of the glu.sup.3,5 basic FGF and eliminate disulfide scrambled forms, are also described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel chimeric fibroblast growth factors (FGF) wherein the alanine at amino acid 3 and serine 5 of native human recombinant basic fibroblast growth factor are replaced with glutamic acid. The N-terminus sequence of the present chimeric FGFs identify homology with that of human acidic fibroblast growth factor. The mitogenic properties of the native human recombinant basic FGF are exhibited by the present chimeric FGFs, and they are efficiently expressed in E. coli at significantly greater yields that previously reported. Novel variants of this new glu.sup.3,5 basic fibroblast growth factor, such as those in which cysteine 78 and cysteine 96 are replaced, e.g., with serine or other amino acids, to produce stabilized versions of the glu.sup.3,5 basic FGF and eliminate disulfide scrambled forms, are also described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel fragments of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). The mitogenic potency of one of these bFGF fragments, identified as HBF-2 is about 25-50 fold less than that of native bFGF but at least 10.sup.3 -10.sup.4 fold more active than that of previously reported synthetic fragments of bFGF. Therefore, the present invention provides the shortest fragment of bFGF that retains substantial biologic activity.