Patent ID: 7309604

Claim:
A polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence that encodes a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence that is at least 95% identical to a chimeric vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) amino acid sequence of the formula: NH 2 -X 1 -X 2 -X 3 -X 4 -X 5 -X 6 -X 7 -X 8 -X 9 -COOH wherein X 1 is an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of amino acids 3-11 of SEQ ID NO: 128 and amino acids 3-11 of SEQ ID NO: 137; wherein X 2 is an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 129 and 138; wherein X 3 is an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 130 and 139; wherein X 4 is an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 131 and 140; wherein X 5 is an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 132 and 141; wherein X 6 is an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 133 and 142; wherein X 7 is an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 134 and 143; wherein X 8 is an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 135 and 144; wherein X 9 is an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 136 and 145; wherein the chimeric VEGF binds to at least one receptor selected from the group consisting of human VEGFR-1, human VEGFR-2, and human VEGFR-3; and wherein the polypeptide binds to at least one receptor selected from the group consisting of human VEGFR-1, human VEGFR-2, and human VEGFR-3.