Abstract: A search of the public human genome database identified a human EST, GenBank accession number AW293249, which has high homology to known pufferfish urocortin sequences. The full length sequence was amplified from human genomic DNA and sequenced. Sequence homology comparisons of the novel sequence with human urocortin I and urocortin II revealed that the sequence encoded a novel human urocortin, which was designated urocortin III (UcnIII). While urocortin III does not have high affinity for either CRF-R1 or CRF-R2, the affinity for CRF-R2 is greater than the affinity for CRF-R1. Urocortin III is capable stimulating cyclic AMP production in cells expressing CRF-R2&agr; or &bgr;. Thus, the affinity is high enough that urocortin III could act as a native agonist of CRF-R2. However, it is also likely that urocortin III is a stronger agonist of a yet to be identified receptor.

Abstract: Human pancreatic GRF (hpGRF), rat hypothalamic GRF (rGRF) and porcine hypothalamic GRF (pGRF) have been earlier characterized and synthesized. The invention provides synthetic peptides which are extremely potent in stimulating the release of pituitary GH in animals, including humans, which have resistance to enzymatic degradation in the body, and which have the sequence: ##STR1## wherein Q.sup.1 is an omega or alpha-omega substituted alkyl,Q.sup.2 is a lower omega-quanidino-alkyl group.R.sub.2 is Ala, D-Ala, or D-N-Methyl-AlaR.sub.3 is Asp, D-Asp, Glu, or D-GluR.sub.8 is Asn, D-Asn, Ser, or D-SerR.sub.10 is Tyr or D-TyrR.sub.12 is Lys, D-Lys Arg or OrnR.sub.13 is Val or IleR.sub.14 is Leu or D-LeuR.sub.15 is Gly, N-Methyl-Gly, or D-AlaR.sub.17 is Leu or D-LeuR.sub.18 is Tyr or SerR.sub.23 is Leu or D-LeuR.sub.24 is Gln or HisR.sub.25 is Asp, D-Asp, Glu, or D-GluR.sub.27 is Met, D-Met, Ala, Nle, Ile, Val, Nva, LeuR.sub.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the production of a urea-fatty acid adduct composed of discrete solid particles and having high protein and starch equivalent values wherein an aqueous solution or melt of urea at increased temperature is reacted with a fatty acid or a mixture of fatty acid and neutral fat at an increased temperature in a weight ratio of urea to fatty acid between 40 : 60 and 60 : 40 in a confined reacting space for about 2.5 to 10 seconds and wherein the mixture has been sprayed into a spraying space to allow the particles to crystallize in the air stream from the spraying.