Fish growth hormones

Abstract

The invention relates to new fish growth hormones, nucleic acids encoding them, and transgenic fish that express them.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A substantially pure polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence at least 75% identical to SEQ ID NO:2, at least 97% identical to SEQ ID NO:6, or at least 95% identical to SEQ ID NO:10, wherein the polypeptide increases cell proliferation.  
     
     
         2 . The polypeptide of  claim 1 , wherein the amino acid sequence is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs:2, 6, and 10.  
     
     
         3 . A substantially pure polypeptide encoded by a nucleic acid that hybridizes under stringent conditions to a single stranded nucleic acid consisting of any one of SEQ ID NOs:4, 8, and 12, wherein the polypeptide increases cell proliferation.  
     
     
         4 . A substantially pure polypeptide comprising any one of SEQ ID NOs:2, 6, and 10 with up to 10 conservative amino acid substitutions, wherein the polypeptide increases cell proliferation.  
     
     
         5 . The polypeptide of  claim 4 , wherein the polypeptide comprises any one of SEQ ID NOs:2, 6, and 10 with up to 5 conservative amino acid substitutions.