Patent ID: 6022853
Filing Date: 2000-02-08
Classification: A23L,A61K,A61L,C07K,G01N

Abstract:
A composition comprising:(a) a nutrient, trace mineral, or vitamin required for normal metabolism in mammalian tissue; and(b) a morphogen capable of being absorbed from the digestive system into the bloodstream, wherein it retains morphogenic activity, said morphogen comprising an acid-stable, protease-resistant dimeric protein that(i) induces tissue-specific morphogenesis of at least mammalian bone tissue; and(ii) comprises a pair of folded polypeptides, each having an amino acid sequence comprising a conserved cysteine skeleton of approximately 102 amino acids, wherein cysteines occupy relative positions 1, 30, 34, 66, 67, 99, and 101, and wherein at least 70% of amino acids in said skeleton are selected independently from amino acids occupying corresponding positions within the C-terminal seven cysteine domain of human OP-1, residues 38-139 of Seq. ID No. 5, and conservative substitution variants of said amino acids,said morphogen being dispersed in said composition in a dosage sufficient to induce tissue-specific morphogenesis and to protect mammalian tissue from tissue damage or reduced tissue function due to metabolic stress or dysfunction.