Polypeptides, derivatives and uses thereof

摘要

The invention provides a compound having formula X1-Arg-Xaa-Arg-X2 in which X1 and X2 are up to 30 amino acid residues and Xaa is an amino acid residue. A preferred compound is the tripeptide Arg-Glu-Arg which corresponds to amino acid residues 328 to 330 of human amyloid precursor protein. The invention further provides a derivative of a polypeptide having the formula: X1-Arg-Xaa-Arg-X2 wherein X1 and X2, which may be the same or different, each represents from zero to 30 natural or synthetic amino acid residues or derivatives thereof and Xaa represents a natural or synthetic amino acid residue or derivative thereof, at least one functional group of at least one said amino acid residue or derivative thereof being protected by a protective group. The compounds of the invention are believed to be useful in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and as cognitive enhancers.