Abstract: The invention provides isolated agents having a core peptide selected from the group consisting of Core peptides 5 through 39 and 42 through 55, wherein the agent derepresses an IAP-inhibited caspase. Also provided is an isolated agent having a core structure selected from any of the structures shown in FIGS. 5, 9, 10, 14B, and 21-24 wherein said agent derepresses an IAP-inhibited caspase. The invention further provides a method of derepressing an IAP-inhibited caspase. The method consists of contacting an IAP-inhibited caspase with an effective amount of an agent to derepress an IAP-inhibited caspase, the agent having a core motif selected from the group consisting of a core peptide having a sequence set forth in any of Core peptides 4 through 39 and 42 through 55, and a core structure selected from the group consisting of TPI759, TPI882, TPI914 or TPI927.

Abstract: Membrane translocation peptides, compositions comprising them, chimeric molecules comprising them, and methods of using them to achieve transmembrane transport of various agents.

Abstract: A solid phase synthetic method is disclosed in which the usual solid phase synthetic steps are carried out and the spent solid phase support is reacted to form a volatilizable compound upon cleavage of the reaction product from the solid phase support. The cleaved product is then separated from the volatile compound by volatilization of that compound. Exemplary solid supports that form a volatilizable compound are also disclosed.

Abstract: The synthesis of individual di- and tri-substituted-1,4-diazacyclic compounds having 6- to 8-atoms in the cyclic ring, their corresponding 1,6-diketo-2,5-diazacyclic compounds and similar 1,4-diazacyclic ring compounds having one ring carbonyl gorup and 6-8 atoms in the ring is disclosed, as are libraries of such compounds. Methods of preparing and using the libraries of compounds as well as individual compounds of the libraries are also disclosed.

Abstract: Small, polybasic peptides are disclosed that are effective as furin inhibitors, e.g. hexa- to nona-peptides having L-Arg or L-Lys in most positions. Removing the peptide terminating groups can improve inhibition of furin. High inhibition was seen in a series of non-amidated and non-acetylated polyarginines. The most potent inhibitor identified to date, nona-L-arginine, had a Ki against furin of 40 nM. Non-acetylated, poly-D-arginine-derived molecules are preferred furin inhibitors for therapeutic uses, such as inhibiting certain bacterial infections, viral infections, and cancers. Due to their relatively small size, these peptides should be non-immunogenic. These peptides are efficiently transported across cell membranes.

Abstract: Individual substituted [3,5,7]-1H-imidazo[1,5-a]imidazol-2(3H)-one compounds and their pharmaceutically-acceptable salts are disclosed, as are libraries of such compounds. Methods of preparing and using the libraries of compounds as well as individual compounds of the libraries are also disclosed.

Abstract: Individual substituted [3,5,7]-1H-imidazo[1,5-a]imidazol-2(3H)-one compounds and their pharmaceutically-acceptable salts are disclosed, as are libraries of such compounds. Methods of preparing and using the libraries of compounds as well as individual compounds of the libraries are also disclosed.

Abstract: A solid phase synthetic method is disclosed in which the usual solid phase synthetic steps are carried out and the spent solid phase support is reacted to form a volatilizable compound upon cleavage of the reaction product from the solid phase support. The cleaved product is then separated from the volatile compound by volatilization of that compound. Exemplary solid supports that form a volatilizable compound are also disclosed.

Abstract: The synthesis of individual di- and tri-substituted-1,4-diazacyclic compounds having 6- to 8-atoms in the cyclic ring, their corresponding 1,6-diketo-2,5-diazacyclic compounds and similar 1,4-diazacyclic ring compounds having one ring carbonyl group and 6-8 atoms in the ring is disclosed, as are libraries of such compounds. Methods of preparing and using the libraries of compounds as well as individual compounds of the libraries are also disclosed.

Abstract: Dialkyl urea compounds are described which act as calcitonin mimetics. These compounds are useful in the treatment of diseases which are associated with bone resorption. The calcitonin mimetics of the present invention are also useful in assays for the determination of calcitonin receptor activity.

Abstract: The invention provides a rapid approach for combinatorial synthesis and screening of combinatorial libraries of bicyclic guanidine compounds. The present invention further provides the compounds made by the combinatorial synthesis and individually as well as methods of using the same.

Abstract: The invention provides ligands for melanocortin receptors. For example, the invention provides the melanocortin receptor peptide ligand Ac-Nlc-Gln-His-(p(I)-D-Phe)-Arg-(D-Trp)-Cly-NH2, (SEQ ID NO: 1), where the iodo group is unlabeled or radioactively labeled. The invention additionally provides methods of assaying for melanocortin receptors in a cell or tissue such as brain. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and a melanocortin receptor ligand and to methods of administering the pharmaceutical composition to a subject. The invention further provides tetrapeptide ligands for melanocortin receptors and methods of altering melanocortin receptor activity.

Abstract: Dimeric oligopeptide mixture sets, their synthesis and use in determining the sequence of an oligopeptide dimer ligand that optimally binds to a receptor are disclosed. A dimeric oligopeptide mixture set has two oligopeptide portions bonded together by a disulfide bond. Each oligopeptide of a first oligopeptide portion has the same number of 3 to about 10 residues including an oxidized mercaptan-containing residue that forms part of the disulfide bond and an amino acid residue sequence that includes at least one of at least six residues in addition to the oxidized mercaptan-containing residue at the same one or more predetermined positions of the oligopeptide chain. The second portion has an oligopeptide chain having a length of 4 to about 10 residues, including an oxidized mercaptan-containing residue that forms part of the disulfide bond.

Abstract: Dialkyl urea compounds are described which act as calcitonin mimetics. These compounds are useful in the treatment of diseases which are associated with bone resorption. The calcitonin mimetics of the present invention are also useful in assays for the determination of calcitonin receptor activity.

Abstract: Compounds that provide protection against excitotoxic neuronal damage are selected from the group consisting of Arg-rich oligopeptides and compounds of formula 1: where R1 is alkyl, alkenyl, or hydroxyalkyl, aminoalkyl, or alkoxy-alkyl; and R2 and R3 are each natural or artificial amino acid side chains.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel cytokine restraining agents, which limit or control the biological activity of cytokines. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising a cytokine restraining peptide and methods of administering the pharmaceutical composition to a subject. The invention further provides methods for using the novel peptides to restrain cytokine activity in a subject.

Abstract: Dialkyl urea compounds are described which act as calcitonin mimetics. These compounds are useful in the treatment of diseases which are associated with bone resorption. The calcitonin mimetics of the present invention are also useful in assays for the determination of calcitonin receptor activity.

Abstract: Linear substituted oligoalkyleneimine molecules and libraries of molecules are disclosed, as are their methods of synthesis and use in acceptor binding assays. Each molecule or chain of a library contains the same number of 2 to about 10 substituted alkyleneimine repeating units, whose substituents are reduced amino acid side chains bonded to the repeating units at a position alpha to the nitrogen atom, and the member chains of a library are present in equimolar amounts. The chains of a library contain one or more predetermined reduced amino acid side chain-substituted repeating units at one or more predetermined positions of the substituted oligoalkyleneimine chain. The library contains equimolar amounts of at least six different reduced amino acid side chain-substituted repeating units at one or more of the same predetermined positions of the substituted oligoalkyleneimine chain. Particularly preferred linear substituted oligoalkyleneimine molecules and libraries are linear substituted oligoethyleneimines.

Abstract: The instant invention is directed to a single, selectively N-alkylated compound and libraries of such compounds as set forth in Formula I. Furthermore, the instant invention is directed to methods of effecting analgesia, a decrease in the postprandial rise in the blood glucose levels of a mammal after ingestion of a carbohydrate load by said mammal, and treating microbial infections, utilizing such a single compound of Formula I in conjunction with a pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier. Also, the instant invention is directed to methods for selective alkylation, positional scanning and iterative synthetic and screening technologies.

Abstract: The instant invention is directed to a single, selectively N-alkylated compound and libraries of such compounds as set forth in Formula I. Furthermore, the instant invention is directed to methods of effecting analgesia, a decrease in the postprandial rise in the blood glucose levels of a mammal after ingestion of a carbohydrate load by said mammal, and treating microbial infections, utilizing such a single compound of Formula I in conjunction with a pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier. Also, the instant invention is directed to methods for selective alkylation, positional scanning and iterative synthetic and screening technologies.