Patent ID: 7468273

Claim:
An expression vector for expressing a canine pro-GHRH deleted of the propeptide N-terminus comprising a polynucleotide operatively linked to a promoter and optionally to an enhancer, wherein the polynucleotide comprises (a) a polynucleotide encoding a canine proGHRH N-terminus deleted polypeptide having at least 95% sequence identity to amino acids 31 to 106 of SEQ ID NO: 1; or (b) a polynucleotide having at least 95% sequence identity to nucleotides 91 to 321 of SEQ ID NO:3 and encoding a canine proGHRH N-terminus deleted polypeptide; and (c) a polynucleotide encoding a secretory signal peptide sequence fused to the nucleotide base sequence from nucleotide 91 to nucleotide 321 of SEQ ID NO: 3; wherein the canine pro-GHRH polypeptide deleted of the propeptide N-terminus, when expressed in vivo in a canine is able to be cellularly processed to mature canine GHRH with the ability to stimulate growth hormone secretion.