Urocortin

Inventors: Wylie Vale, Joan Vaughan, Cynthia Donaldson, Kathy Lewis, Paul Sawchenko, Jean Rivier, Marilyn Perrin
Potential Uses: A native mammalian peptide with potent hypotensive activity used as a therapeutic or target

The invention relates to Urocortin, a native mammalian peptide generally related to Urotensin I and Corticotropin Releasing Factor (CRF). Urocortin or analogs thereof not only are potent hypotensive agents but they have additional pharmacological and physiological properties over and beyond those of heretofore known CRFs. Pharmaceutical compositions of Urocortin can be used to lower blood pressure or increase coronary flow, decrease swelling and inflammation, improve memory and learning performance, and elevate mood. The invention also relates to competitive binding assays which are particularly useful for screening candidates for new drugs.