Abstract: The invention provides peptides and nucleic acids encoding them that can be used to raise antibodies that bind to and cause destruction of cells that have undergone conformational changes in human anion exchange protein 1 (AE1). The invention further provides methods for using the proteins and nucleic acids, uses for them, and compositions of the proteins or nucleic acids and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

Abstract: It has been found that agents which inhibit the interaction between the band 3 protein and its ligand (hereafter sometimes referred to as “interaction inhibitors” or “inhibitors”), CD36/thrombospondin, can also be used to enhance thrombolysis. The inhibitors can be peptides which contain sequences present in exofacial loops of the band 3 protein, or can be non-natural, D-isomer forms of the same sequences, or can be peptides, peptidomimetics, or non-peptidic molecules which interfere with band 3 protein—ligand interactions. One preferred group of such inhibitors comprises peptides characterized by the sequence motif Z2Z3Z2UX−UUUX− (SEQ ID NO:44), wherein Z2 represents a hydrophobic residue, U represents unobstructive residues, Z3 is either Z2 or an unobstructive residue and X− represents negatively charged residues.