Abstract: Drug candidate screening methods are applied to discover compounds with activity against ion channel targets. The method may include modulating the transmembrane potential of host cells in a plurality of sample wells with a repetitive application of electric fields so as to set the transmembrane potential to a level corresponding to a pre-selected voltage dependent state of a target ion channel.

Abstract: A high throughput chemical screening method uses methods of concurrent transport and/or processing to increase throughput. A screener may concurrently retrieve chemicals from an addressable chemical storage module and deliver chemicals to a liquid handling module. The screener may also use one transport lane for moving chemicals away from a storage module, and a second transport lane for moving chemicals toward the storage module.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for designing inhibitors of serine/threonine kinases and tyrosine kinases, particularly MAP kinases, through the use of ATP-binding site mutants of those kinases. The methods of this invention take advantage of the fact that the mutant kinases are capable of binding inhibitory compounds of other kinases with greater affinity than the corresponding wild-type kinase. The invention further relates to the mutant kinases themselves and crystallizable co-complexes of the mutant kinase and the inhibitory compound.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel class of sulfonamides which are aspartyl protease inhibitors. In one embodiment, this invention relates to a novel class of HIV aspartyl protease inhibitors characterized by specific structural and physicochemical features. This invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds. The compounds and pharmaceutical compositions of this invention are particularly well suited for inhibiting HIV-1 and HIV-2 protease activity and consequently, may be advantageously used as anti-viral agents against the HIV-1 and HIV-2 viruses. This invention also relates to methods for inhibiting the activity of HIV aspartyl protease using the compounds of this invention and methods for screening compounds for anti-HIV activity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel class of sulfonamides which are aspartyl protease inhibitors. In one embodiment, this invention relates to a novel class of HIV aspartyl protease inhibitors characterized by specific structural and physicochemical features. This invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds. The compounds and pharmaceutical compositions of this invention are particularly well suited for inhibiting HIV-1 and HIV-2 protease activity and consequently, may be advantageously used as anti-viral agents against the HIV-1 and HIV-2 viruses. This invention also relates to methods for inhibiting the activity of HIV aspartyl protease using the compounds of this invention and methods for screening compounds for anti-HIV activity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel fusion proteins, DNA molecules encoding the same, vectors comprising the DNA molecules, and host cells containing the vectors for use in measuring protease activity using a novel transcriptional assay. This invention also relates to a method for determining the inhibitory activity of a compound against a protease and to a method for comparing the activity of two proteases which recognize the same cleavage site. Kits for assaying protease activity comprising DNA molecules encoding the fusion protein substrates of this invention are also contemplated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel class of sulfonamides which are aspartyl protease inhibitors. In one embodiment, this invention relates to a novel class of HIV aspartyl protease inhibitors characterized by specific structural and physicochemical features. This invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds. The compounds and pharmaceutical compositions of this invention are particularly well suited for inhibiting HIV-1 and HIV-2 protease activity and consequently, may be advantageously used as anti-viral agents against the HIV-1 and HIV-2 viruses. This invention also relates to methods for inhibiting the activity of HIV aspartyl protease using the compounds of this invention and methods for screening compounds for anti-HIV activity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel classes of compounds which are inhibitors of interleukin-1&bgr; converting enzyme (“ICE”). This invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds. The compounds and pharmaceutical compositions of this invention are particularly well suited for inhibiting ICE activity and consequently, may be advantageously used as agents against interleukin-1-(“IL-1”), apoptosis-, interferon-&ggr; inducing factor-(IGIF), or interferon-&ggr;-(“IFN-&ggr;”) mediated diseases, including inflammatory diseases, autoimmune diseases, destructive bone disorders, proliferative disorders, infectious diseases, and degenerative diseases. This invention also relates to methods for inhibiting ICE activity and decreasing IGIF production and IFN-&ggr; production and methods for treating interleukin-1, apoptosis- and interferon-&ggr;-mediated diseases using the compounds and compositions of this invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel classes of compounds which are inhibitors of interleukin-1&bgr; converting enzyme (“ICE”). This invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds. The compounds and pharmaceutical compositions of this invention are particularly well suited for inhibiting ICE activity and consequently, may be advantageously used as agents against interleukin-1-(“IL-1”), apoptosis-, interferon-&ggr; inducing factor-(IGIF), interferon-&ggr;-(“IFN-&ggr;”) mediated diseases, excess dietary alcohol intake diseases, or viral diseases, including inflammatory diseases, autoimmune diseases, destructive bone disorders, proliferative disorders, infectious diseases, and degenerative diseases.

Abstract: This invention relates to the use of butyrate prodrugs derived from lactic acid for treating inflammatory bowel disease. The invention also relates to the use of those prodrugs for the treatment of a chemotherapy-induced mucocutaneous side effect in a patient. The invention further relates to the use of butyrate prodrugs for treating lung, colo-rectal or prostate cancer. And the invention also relates to the use of butyrate prodrugs to treat cystic fibrosis and to enhance the efficiency of gene therapy.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for simultaneously N(2)-acylating piperazic acid or an ester thereof and forming a bicyclic ring structure. The invention also relates to the use of that process step in a method of synthesizing a bicyclic compound useful as an intermediate for the production of an inhibitor of a caspase, particularly an inhibitor of interleukin-1&bgr; converting enzyme (“ICE”).

Abstract: The invention relates to the X-ray crystal structure of the hepatitis C virus helicase domain. More specifically, the invention relates to crystallized complexes of HCV helicase and an oligonucleotide, to crystallizable compositions of HCV helicase and an oligonucleotide and to methods of crystallizing an HCV helicase-oligonucleotide complex. The invention further relates to a computer programmed with the structure coordinates of the HCV helicase oligonucleotide binding pocket or the HCV helicase nucleotide triphosphate pocket wherein said computer is capable of displaying a three-dimensional representation of that binding pocket.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for synthesizing piperazic acid and similar, ring-containing acids. The invention also relates to a process for simultaneously N(2)-acylating piperazic acid or an ester thereof and forming a bicyclic ring structure. The invention also relates to the use of either or both processes in a method of synthesizing a bicyclic compound useful as an intermediate for the production of an inhibitor of a caspase, particularly an inhibitor of interleukin-1&bgr; converting enzyme (“ICE”).

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for designing inhibitors of serine/threonine kinases and tyrosine kinases, particularly MAP kinases, through the use of ATP-binding site mutants of those kinases. The methods of this invention take advantage of the fact that the mutant kinases are capable of binding inhibitory compounds of other kinases with greater affinity than the corresponding wild-type kinase. The invention further relates to the mutant kinases themselves and crystallizable co-complexes of the mutant kinase and the inhibitory compound.

Abstract: Disclosed are compounds of the formula (I) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is a halogen, or an oxygen linked leaving group including an aromatic ether, an alkyl sulfonate, an aryl sulfonate, an alkyl phosphonate, an aryl phosphonate, an alkyl phosphate or aryl phosphate;R.sub.2 is COOR.sub.5, C(.dbd.O)NH(CHR.sub.5).sub.m --COOR.sub.5, NH(CHR.sub.5).sub.m CON(R.sub.5)R.sub.6, C(.dbd.O)N(R.sub.5)R.sub.6 or NH(CHR.sub.5).sub.m OH;R.sub.3 is H or alkyl;R.sub.4 is H, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, heteroaryl or alkyl;R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 are independently H, lower alkyl, aryl, hydroxy alkyl, amino alkyl, heteroaryl, lower alkylene-aryl, lower alkylene-heteroaryl or lower cycloalkyl; and m=0-6; pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds; and a method for inhibiting interleukin-1.beta. protease activity in a mammal utilizing the compounds and compositions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to inhibitors of p38, a mammalian protein kinase involved in cell proliferation, cell death and response to extracellular stimuli. The invention also relates to methods for producing these inhibitors. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising the inhibitors of the invention and methods of utilizing those compositions in the treatment and prevention of various disorders.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel classes of compounds which are inhibitors of interleukin-1.beta. converting enzyme. The ICE inhibitors of this invention are characterized by specific structural and physicochemical features. This invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing these compounds. The compounds and pharmaceutical compositions of this invention are particularly well suited for inhibiting ICE activity and consequently, may be advantageously used as agents against interleukin-1 mediated diseases, including inflammatory diseases, autoimmune diseases and neurodegenerative diseases. This invention also relates to methods for inhibiting ICE activity and methods for treating interleukin-1 mediated diseases using the compounds and compositions of this invention.

Abstract: A protein such as an enzyme or antibody is immobilized by crosslinking crystals of the protein with a multifunctional crosslinking agent. The crosslinked protein crystals may be lyophilized for storage. A preferred protein is an enzyme such as thermolysin, elastase, asparaginase, lysozyme, lipase or urease. Crosslinked enzyme crystals preferably retain at least 91% activity after incubation for three hours in the presence of a concentration of Pronase.TM. that causes the soluble uncrosslinked form of the enzyme to lose at least 94% of its initial activity under the same conditions. A preferred enzyme:Pronase.TM. ratio is 40:1. Enzyme crystals that are crosslinked may be microcrystals having a cross-section of 10.sup.-1 mm or less.

Abstract: Proteins such as enzymes and antibodies are immobilized by crosslinking crystals of the proteins such as microcrystals having a cross-section of 10.sup.-1 mm or less with a multifunctional crosslinking agent. The crosslinked protein crystals may be lyophilized for storage. Crystals of an enzyme such as thermolysin, elastase, asparaginase, lysozyme, lipase or urease may be crosslinked to provide crosslinked enzyme crystals that retain at least 91% activity after incubation for three hours in the presence of a concentration of Pronase.TM. that causes the soluble uncrosslinked form of the enzyme to lose at least 94% of its initial activity under the same conditions. A preferred Pronase.TM.:enzyme ratio is 1:40.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and pharmaceutical compositions for decreasing the production of interferon-gamma inducing factor (IGIF). The invention also relates to methods and pharmaceutical compositions for decreasing the production of interferon-gamma (IFN-.gamma.). The compositions comprise a therapeutically effective amount of a compound which inhibits interleukin-1.beta. converting enzyme (ICE) and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The methods comprise the step of administering the above compositions to a subject. The present invention also relates to methods for treating or reducing the advancement, severity or effects of an IGIF- or IFN-.gamma.-mediated inflammatory, infectious or autoimmune condition.