| abstract |
Peptides containing a biological-function domain and a medically useful metal ion-binding domain are labeled with medically useful metal ions for use in diagnosis and treatment of a variety of pathologic conditions. The peptides have the amino acid sequence (R1)-[Y1]n-(R2), (R1)-[Y1-(R2)-Y1]n-(R3) and (R1)-[Y1-(R2)-Y2]n-(R3) wherein the medically useful metal ion-binding domain is [Y1]n, [Y1-(R2)-Y1]n or [Y1-(R2)-Y2]n+L, in which n is a number between 1 and about 6 and Y1 and Y2 are amino acids with a sulfur, nitrogen or oxygen which is available for binding to metal ions, or can be made available for binding to metal ions; the biological-function domain is an amino acid sequence containing from 1 to about 20 amino acids located in any one or more of R1, R2 or R3; and those portions of R1, R2 and R3 which are not part of the biological-function domain are amino acid sequences containing from 0 to about 20 amino acids. The resulting product may be stored frozen or lyophilized, with labeling accomplished by the addition of the medically useful metal ions. The medically useful metal ion may be radioactive or paramagnetic, with diagnosis performed by gamma scintigraphy, specific photon emission computerized tomography, positron emission tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. |