G-CSF Conjugates

Abstract

The invention relates to polypeptide conjugates comprising a polypeptide exhibiting G-CSF activity and having an amino acid sequence that differs from the amino acid sequence of human G-CSF in at least one specified introduced and/or removed amino acid residue comprising an attachment group for a non-polypeptide moiety, and having at least one non-polypeptide moiety attached to an attachment group of the polypeptide. The attachment group may e.g., be a lysine, cysteine, aspartic acid or glutamic acid residue or a glycosylation site, and the non-polypeptide moiety may e.g., be a polymer such as polyethylene glycol or an oligosaccharide. The conjugate has one or more improved properties such as increased biological half-life and reduced side effects.

1 .- 27 . (canceled)  
     
     
         28 . A nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide exhibiting G-CSF cell proliferation activity, the polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence that differs from the hG-CSF sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:1 in no more than 15 amino acid residues and comprises the substitution T105K.  
     
     
         29 . An expression vector harbouring the nucleotide sequence of  claim 28 .  
     
     
         30 . A host cell comprising a nucleotide sequence according to  claim 28 .  
     
     
         31 .- 33 . (canceled)