| abstract |
Cyclic neurotrophic and analgesic peptides derived from the active region of prosaposin having the consensus sequence X1X2X3NNX4TX5X6X7X8 (SEQ ID NO:4), wherein X1 is a hydrophobic amino acid (leucine, isoleucine, valine, tyrosine, tryptophan, phenylalanine or methionine); X2 is a hydrophobic amino acid, X3 is aspartic acid, glutamic acid, lysine or arginine; N is asparagine, X4 is any amino acid; T is threonine; X5 is glutamic acid or aspartic acid; X6 is any amino acid, X7 is a hydrophobic amino acid; and X8 is a hydrophobic amino acid. The peptides are useful in the promotion of neural outgrowth, prevention of cell death, promotion of myelination, treatment of neurodegenerative disorders and treatment and prevention of neuropathic pain. |