Peptide, process for its preparation and pharmaceutical composition containing same

DETAILED DESCRIPTION We claim: 1.
pGlu-Pro-Pro-Gly-Gly-Ser-Lys-Val-Ile-Leu-Phe.
2.
A pharmaceutical composition for cell-growth stimulating action comprising an effective amount of the compound of claim 1 as active substance together with conventional pharmaceutical carrier.




Description:
The invention relates to a previously unknown peptide of 11 amino acids, a process for its preparation, and its use in pharmaceutical compositions.
The peptide of the invention consists of 11 amino acids and has the following sequence: pGlu-Pro-Pro-Gly-Gly-Ser-Lys-Val-Ile-Leu-Phe.
The sequence given above has been confirmed by synthesis.
The peptide of the invention has the following retention times on a reversed phase octylsilane column (LiChrosorb RP-8, particle size 7 .
mu.
m, column size 250.
times.
4 mm) at a rate of flow of one milliliter per minute: 1.
in 50% methanol in 5 mM of ammonium bicarbonate, isocratic, 7.
6 min.
2.
with gradient (10 min) from 40 to 60% methanol in 5 mM of ammonium bicarbonate, 10.
5 min.
3.
in 30% acetonitrile in 0.
1% TFA (trifluoroacetic acid), isocratic, 8 min.
4.
with gradient (10 min) from 20 to 40% acetonitrile in 0.
1% TFA, 11.
2 min.
The peptide of the invention is the active substance of the so-called "head activator".
In the case of Hydra, the compound acts as a mitogen, where it is necessary for the cell division of all types of cells.
In Hydra, the compound is also responsible for head-specific determination, i.
e.
, an interstitial parent cell is determined by the connection to the nerve cell.
These effects occur at very low concentrations of the order of 10.
sup.
-10 M.
On mammals the compound has a growth-stimulating action on embryonal brain cells and has a hypertensive (pressor) effect upon intraventricular administration.
On the basis of its biological properties, the compound of the invention is an interesting research chemical and furthermore offers interesting possibilities for its use as a pharmaceutical.
It has been found that the compound of the invention can be obtained from animal tissues, especially from the hypothalamus region of the brain or from the intestine of mammals or from whole coelenterates