Abstract: Cell motility and growth inhibitors, including compounds of the general structural formula and use of the cell motility and cell growth inhibitors, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, prodrugs, and solvates thereof, as therapeutic agents, are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel beta-secretase inhibitors and methods for their use, including methods of treating of Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract: Methods for the production of purified, catalytically active, recombinant memapsin 2 have been developed. The substrate and subsite specificity of the catalytically active enzyme have been determined. The substrate and subsite specificity information was used to design substrate analogs of the natural memapsin 2 substrate that can inhibit the function of memapsin 2. The substrate analogs are based on peptide sequences, shown to be related to the natural peptide substrates for memapsin 2. The substrate analogs contain at least one analog of an amide bond which is not capable of being cleaved by memapsin 2. Processes for the synthesis of two substrate analogues including isosteres at the sites of the critical amino acid residues were developed and the substrate analogues, OMR99-1 and OM99-2, were synthesized. OM99-2 is based on an octapeptide Glu-Val-Asn-Leu-Ala-Ala-Glu-Phe (SEQ ID NO:28) with the Leu-Ala peptide bond substituted by a transition-state isostere hydroxyethylene group (FIG. 1).

Abstract: The present invention provides novel beta-secretase inhibitors and methods for their use, including methods of treating of Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract: Methods for the production of purified, catalytically active, recombinant memapsin 2 have been developed. The substrate and subsite specificity of the catalytically active enzyme have been determined and were used to design substrate analogs of the natural -2 substrate that can inhibit the function of memapsin 2. Processes for the synthesis of two substrate analogues including isosteres at the sites of the critical amino acid residues were developed and the substrate analogues, OMR99-1 and OM99-2, were synthesized. The inhibition constant of OM99-2 is 1.6×10?9 M against recombinant pro-memapsin 2. Crystallography of memapsin 2 bound to this inhibitor was used to determine the three dimensional structure of the protein, and the importance of the various residues in binding. This information is useful for designing new inhibitors to memapsin 2, for diagnosing and treating and/or preventing Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract: Compounds useful for inhibiting HIV protease are disclosed. Methods of making the compounds, and their use as therapeutic agents, for example, in treating wild-type HIV and of multidrug-resistant strains of HIV, also are disclosed.

Abstract: Laulimalide and epothilone derivatives useful as microtubule stabilizing agents, and in the treatment of cancers are disclosed. Methods of making the compounds and using the compounds as therapeutic agents in treating cancers also are disclosed.

Abstract: HIV protease inhibitors are among the most powerful drugs in suppressing HIV in human patients. However, HIV developed resistance to all protease inhibitor drugs so far marketed or used in clinical trials. HIV generates resistance by mutating its protease. The strains of HIV containing mutant proteases less vulnerable to inhibitor drug are able to replicate better and maintain the infection. No effective principle exists for the design of resistance-proof HIV protease inhibitors (HIVPr). A new inhibitor has been developed based on a new concept for designing resistance invulnerable HIVPr inhibitors. In vitro data have shown that this inhibitor is effective against many known HIVPr mutants resistant to other HIVPr inhibitor drugs. The new concept is, therefore, generally applicable for the design of other resistance invulnerable HIVPr inhibitor drugs.

Abstract: A method of synthesizing (3R,3aS,6aR)-3-hydroxyhexahydrofuro[2,3-b]furan (I), and related compounds, in high yield and high enantiomeric selectivity is disclosed. Also disclosed is a method of manufacturing (5S)-5-(benzyloxymethyl)-5H-furan-2-one.

Abstract: Methods for the production of purified, catalytically active, recombinant memapsin 2 have been developed. The substrate and subsite specificity of the catalytically active enzyme have been determined. The substrate and subsite specificity information was used to design substrate analogs of the natural memapsin 2 substrate that can inhibit the function of memapsin 2. The substrate analogs are based on peptide sequences, shown to be related to the natural peptide substrates for memapsin 2. The substrate analogs contain at least one analog of an amide bond which is not capable of being cleaved by memapsin 2. Processes for the synthesis of two substrate analogues including isosteres at the sites of the critical amino acid residues were developed and the substrate analogues, OMR99-1 and OM99-2, were synthesized. OM99-2 is based on an octapeptide Glu-Val-Asn-Leu-Ala-Ala-Glu-Phe (SEQ ID NO:28) with the Leu-Ala peptide bond substituted by a transition-state isostere hydroxyethylene group (FIG. 1).

Abstract: Methods for the production of purified, catalytically active, recombinant memapsin 2 have been developed. The substrate and subsite specificity of the catalytically active enzyme have been determined. The substrate and subsite specificity information was used to design substrate analogs of the natural memapsin 2 substrate that can inhibit the function of memapsin 2. The substrate analogs are based on peptide sequences, shown to be related to the natural peptide substrates for memapsin 2. The substrate analogs contain at least one analog of an amide bond which is not capable of being cleaved by memapsin 2. Processes for the synthesis of two substrate analogues including isosteres at the sites of the critical amino acid residues were developed and the substrate analogues, OMR99-1 and OM99-2, were synthesized. OM99-2 is based on an octapeptide Glu-Val-Asn-Leu-Ala-Ala-Glu-Phe (SEQ ID NO:28) with the Leu-Ala peptide bond substituted by a transition-state isostere hydroxyethylene group (FIG. 1).

Abstract: A method of synthesizing (3R,3aS,6aR)-3-hydroxyhexahydrofuro[2,3-b]furan (I), and related compounds, in high yield and high enantiomeric selectivity is disclosed.

Abstract: Compounds inhibit memapsin 2 &bgr;-secretase activity and selectively inhibit memapsin 2 &bgr;-secretase activity relative to memapsin 1 &bgr;-secretase activity. The compounds are employed in methods to inhibit memapsin 2 &bgr;-secretase activity, in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, in the inhibition of hydrolysis of a &bgr;-secretase site of a &bgr;amyloid precursor protein and to decrease &bgr;-amyloid protein in in vitro samples and in mammals. Proteins of memapsin 2 associated with compounds of the invention are crystallized.

Abstract: Compounds useful for inhibiting HIV protease are disclosed. Methods of making the compounds, and their use as therapeutic agents, for example, in treating wild-type HIV and of multidrug-resistant strains of HIV, also are disclosed.

Abstract: Laulimalide and epothilone derivatives useful as microtubule stabilizing agents, and in the treatment of cancers are disclosed. Methods of making the compounds and using the compounds as therapeutic agents in treating cancers also are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods for the production of purified, catalytically active, recombinant memapsin 2 have been developed-, The substrate and subsite specificity of the catalytically active enzyme have been determined by a method which determines the initial hydrolysis rate of the substrates by using MALDI-TOF/MS. Alternatively, the subsite specificity of memapsin can be determined by probing a library of inhibitors with memapsin 2 and subsequently detecting the bound memapsin 2 with an antibody raised to memapsin 2 and an alkaline phosphatase conjugated secondary antibody. The substrate and subsite specificity information was used to design substrate analogs of the natural memapsin 2 substrate that can inhibit the function of memapsin 2. The substrate analogs are based on peptide sequences, shown to be related to the natural peptide substrates for memapsin 2. The substrate analogs contain at least one analog of an amide bond which is not capable of being cleaved by memapsin 2.

Abstract: Methods for the production of purified, catalytically active, recombinant memapsin 2 have been developed. The substrate and subsite specificity of the catalytically active enzyme have been determined. The substrate and subsite specificity information was used to design substrate analogs of the natural memapsin 2 substrate that can inhibit the function of memapsin 2. The substrate analogs are based on peptide sequences, shown to be related to the natural peptide substrates for memapsin 2. The substrate analogs contain at least one analog of an amide bond which is not capable of being cleaved by memapsin 2. Processes for the synthesis of two substrate analogues including isosteres at the sites of the critical amino acid residues were developed and the substrate analogues, OMR99-1 and OM99-2, were synthesized. OM99-2 is based on an octapeptide Glu-Val-Asn-Leu-Ala-Ala-Glu-Phe (SEQ ID NO:28) with the Leu-Ala peptide bond substituted by a transition-state isostere hydroxyethylene group (FIG. 1).

Abstract: Oligopeptide analogs are described. These compounds are useful in the inhibition of HIV protease, the prevention or treatment of infection by HIV and the treatment of AIDS, either as compounds, pharmaceutically acceptable salts, pharmaceutical composition ingredients, whether or not in combination with other antivitals, immunomodulators, antibiotics or vaccines. Methods of treating AIDS and methods of preventing or treating infection by HIV are also described.