Small humanin-like peptides

Abstract

Novel peptides referred to as small humanin-like peptides (SHLPs) are provided herein along with nucleic acids encoding SHLPs and probes that selectively bind SHLPs. SHLPs have wide-ranging activity, including neuroprotective activity, anticancer activity, and cell survival activity. Also provided herein are therapeutic methods comprising administering an effective amount of an SHLP to a subject in need of treatment.

1 . A small humanin-like peptide (SHLP) comprising an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:13 (SHLP6: MLDQDIPMVQPLLKVRLFND), or a variant thereof having at least 50% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:13 , wherein the variant has at least one therapeutic activity exhibited by SEQ ID NO:13. 
     
     
         2 - 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The peptide of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one therapeutic activity is anticancer activity. 
     
     
         9 . The peptide of  claim 8 , wherein the variant comprises an amino acid sequence having at least 50% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:13. 
     
     
         10 . The peptide of  claim 8 , wherein the anticancer activity is selected from the group consisting of: inducing apoptosis in cancer cells, inhibiting proliferation of cancer cells, inhibiting tumor growth, and inhibiting angiogenesis. 
     
     
         11 . A small humanin-like peptide (SHLP) comprising an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:13 (SHLP6: MLDQDIPMVQPLLKVRLFND), or a variant thereof having at least 65% sequence identity to an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:13. 
     
     
         12 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . The peptide of  claim 11 , comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:13. 
     
     
         18 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising (i) a small humanin-like peptide (SHLP) comprising an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:13 (SHLP6: MLDQDIPMVQPLLKVRLFND), or a variant thereof having at least 65% identity to SEQ ID NO:13; and (ii) at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient. 
     
     
         19 . A method of treating cancer in a patient, comprising administering, to a patient in need of treatment for cancer, an effective amount of a small humanin-like peptide (SHLP) having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:13 (MLDQDIPMVQPLLKVRLFND), or a variant thereof having at least 65% identity to SEQ ID NO:13. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the SHLP has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:13. 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . An isolated polynucleotide encoding a small humanin-like peptide (SHLP) or a variant thereof, the SHLP or variant thereof comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 65% identity to an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:13 (SHLP6: MLDQDIPMVQPLLKVRLFND). 
     
     
         23 - 24 . (canceled)