POLYPEPTIDES HAVING A SINGLE COVALENTLY BOUND N-TERMINAL WATER-SOLUBLE POLYMER

摘要

PURPOSE: Compositions consisting essentially of a polypeptide and a water-soluble polymer covalently bound thereto at the N-terminal alpha-carbon atom via a hydrazone or reduced hydrazone bond, or an oxime or reduced oxime bond are provided. CONSTITUTION: A composition is essentially consisted of a peptide or a protein and a water -soluble polymer covalently bound thereto at the N-terminal carbon atom of the polypeptide, with the proviso that (a)the polymer and polypeptide are bound to each other via a hydrazone bond or reduced hydrazone bond, (b)the polymer has a molecular weight of from about 200 to about 200,000 daltons, (c) the natural function of the polypeptide is not eliminated upon removal of its N-terminal a-amino group, and (d) the protein's N terminal amino acid residue is not serine or threonine.