Patent ID: 7611865

Claim:
A polynucleotide encoding a truncated glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) protein product of the formula: X-[Cys 41 -Cys 133 ]-Y wherein [Cys 41 -Cys 133 ] is Cys 41 through Cys 133 of SEQ ID NO: 2, Y is absent or a carboxy-terminus amino acid residue of Ile 134 , and X represents a methionylated or nonmethionylated amine group of Cys 41 or amino-terminus amino acid residue(s) selected from the group: RG NRG (SEQ ID NO:3) KNRG (SEQ ID NO:4) GKNRG (SEQ ID NO:5) RGKNRG (SEQ ID NO:6) QRGKNRG (SEQ ID NO:7) GQRGKNRG (SEQ ID NO:8) RGQRGKNRG (SEQ ID NO:9) RRGQRGKNRG (SEQ ID NO:10) G RRGQRGKNRG (SEQ ID NO:11) KG RRGQRGKNRG (SEQ ID NO:12) GKG RRGQRGKNRG (SEQ ID NO:13) RGKG RRGQRGKNRG (SEQ ID NO:14) SRGKG RRGQRGKNRG (SEQ ID NO:15) NSRGKG RRGQRGKNRG (SEQ ID NO:16) ENSRGKG RRGQRGKNRG (SEQ ID NO:17) PENSRGKG RRGQRGKNRG (SEQ ID NO:51) SPENSRGKG RRGQRGKNRG (SEQ ID NO:18) NPENSRGKG RRGQRGKNRG (SEQ ID NO:19) ANPENSRGKG RRGQRGKNRG (SEQ ID NO:20) A ANPENSRGKG RRGQRGKNRG (SEQ ID NO:21) AA ANPENSRGKG RRGQRGKNRG (SEQ ID NO:22) AAA ANPENSRGKG RRGQRGKNRG (SEQ ID NO:23) QAAA ANPENSRGKG RRGQRGKNRG (SEQ ID NO:24) RQAAA ANPENSRGKG RRGQRGKNRG (SEQ ID NO:25) NRQAAA ANPENSRGKG RRGQRGKNRG (SEQ ID NO:26) RNRQAAA ANPENSRGKG RRGQRGKNRG (SEQ ID NO:27) ERNRQAAA ANPENSRGKG RRGQRGKNRG (SEQ ID NO:28) RERNRQAAA ANPENSRGKG RRGQRGKNRG (SEQ ID NO:29) RRERNRQAAA ANPENSRGKG RRGQRGKNRG (SEQ ID NO:30) P RRERNRQAAA ANPENSRGKG RRGQRGKNRG (SEQ ID NO:31) LP RRERNRQAAA ANPENSRGKG RRGQRGKNRG (SEQ ID NO:32) VLP RRERNRQAAA ANPENSRGKG RRGQRGKNRG (SEQ ID NO:33) AVLP RRERNRQAAA ANPENSRGKG RRGQRGKNRG (SEQ ID NO:34) MAVLP RRERNRQAAA ANPENSRGKG RRGQRGKNRG (SEQ ID NO:35) QMAVLP RRERNRQAAA ANPENSRGKG RRGQRGKNRG (SEQ ID NO:36) KQMAVLP RRERNRQAAA ANPENSRGKG RRGQRGKNRG (SEQ ID NO:37) DKQMAVLP RRERNRQAAA ANPENSRGKG RRGQRGKNRG and (SEQ ID NO:38) PDKQMAVLP RRERNRQAAA ANPENSRGKG RRGQRGKNRG; wherein said protein product has a neurotrophic effect on dopaminergic nerve cells.