Stresscopins and their Uses

Abstract

The invention provides novel nucleic acids and polypeptides, referred to herein as stresscopin 1 and stresscopin 2, which preferentially activate the CRH-R2 receptor over the R1 receptor. Stresscopins, analogs and mimetics, and related CRH-R2 agonists suppress food intake and heat-induced edema; but do not induce substantial release of ACTH. Stresscopin also finds use in the recovery phase of stress responses, as an anti-inflammatory agent, as a hypotensive agent, as a cardioprotective agent, and in the treatment of psychiatric and anxiolytic disorders. Stresscopin nucleic acid compositions find use in identifying homologous or related proteins and the DNA sequences encoding such proteins; in producing compositions that modulate the expression or function of the protein; and in studying associated physiological pathways.

1 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding the polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:3 or sequences having at least 75% identity to SEQ ID NO:3. 
     
     
         24 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding the polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or sequences having at least 75% identity to SEQ ID NO:2. 
     
     
         25 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule as set forth in SEQ ID NO:1 or sequences having at least 75% identity to SEQ ID NO:1. 
     
     
         26 . A recombinant vector comprising an operative promoter and the nucleic acid molecule of  claim 23 . 
     
     
         27 . The vector of  claim 26 , wherein the vector is a plasmid. 
     
     
         28 . The vector of  claim 26 , wherein the vector is a retroviral vector. 
     
     
         29 . The vector of  claim 26 , wherein the vector is an adenoviral vector. 
     
     
         30 . The nucleic acid molecule of any of  claims 23 ,  24  or  25 , wherein the nucleic acid molecule has at least about 90% identity. 
     
     
         31 . The nucleic acid molecule of any of  claim 23 ,  24  or  25 , wherein the nucleic acid molecule has at least about 95% identity. 
     
     
         32 . An isolated host cell comprising the vector of  claim 26 . 
     
     
         33 . A method of treating a metabolic disease comprising administering to a subject in need thereof, a vector of  claim 26 . 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the disease is diabetes. 
     
     
         35 . The nucleic acid molecule of any of  claims 23 ,  24  or  25 , wherein the molecule is a cDNA sequence.