| abstract |
Disclosed are novel synthetic peptides having primary structural homology to a continuous sequence of amino acid residues of human growth hormone in a region spanning positions thirty-two to forty-six ("hGH32-46", or "deletion peptide"). In preferred forms, peptides of the invention comprehend: duplicate portions (i.e., sequence fragments) of hGH32-46; stereochemical analogs and fragment analogs of hGH32-46 including one or more amino acid residues in D-isomeric configuration; and, "interspecies" analogs and fragment analogs of hGH32-46 including one or more non-homologous amino acid residues duplicating variant residues present in corresponding positions in corresponding regions of heterologous species growth hormones. Peptides of the invention are administered to mammals contemporaneously with exogenous insulin to generate hypoglycemic effects greater than available through administration of insulin alone. A presently preferred heptapeptide has the sequence, NH2-Glu-Glu-Ala-Tyr-Ile-Pro-Lys-COOH, and has insulin-potentiating activity greater than hGH32-46. |