Abstract: A novel class of hydroxylases is described having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, 4, 6 and 8, and variants and fragments thereof having HIF hydroxylation activity. The polypeptides of the invention have in particular prolyl hydroxylase activity. An assay method monitors the interaction of the HIF hydroxylase with a substrate. Modulators of HIF hydroxylase are provided for use in the treatment of a condition associated with increased or decreased HIF levels or activity or for the treatment of a condition where it is desirable to modulate HIF levels or activity.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of formula (I) wherein X is an electron withdrawing group, Y1 is hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, heterocyclyl, —SO2R4, —CO2R4, —CONHR4 or —COR4, and each of R1, R2 and R4, which may be the same or different, is hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkenyl, alkynyl, aryl or heterocyclyl, or a compound of formula (II) wherein each of Y2 and Y3, which may be the same or different, is hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, heterocyclyl, —SO2R9, —CO2R9, —CONHR9 or —COR9, Z is hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, heterocyclyl, —CH═C(NHR10)CH((CH2)mCO2R11)(C═O)CH3 or —CH2(C═O)CH((CH2)mCO2R11)(C═O)CH3, R8 is —(CH2),CO2R12, each of R5 to R7 and R9 to R12, which may be the same or different, is hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkenyl, alkynyl, aryl or heterocyclyl, and each of m and n, which may be the same or different, is 1 t

Abstract: The invention relates to compounds of formula (I) wherein each of X, Y and Z, which may be the same or different, represents hydrogen or an unsubstituted or substituted hydrocarbon radical, typically an alkyl, aryl, including heterocyclic aryl, or non-aromatic heterocyclic radical and Y additionally may represent —COWR wherein W represents O, S or NRiv wherein Riv represents hydrogen or a radical R, and R represents hydrogen or an unsubstituted or substituted hydrocarbon radical for use as protease inhibitors, X, Y and Z being chosen so that they do not react covalently prior to reaction of the &bgr;-lactam ring with the target protease.

Abstract: The invention concerns perfluoro-lower-alkyl derivatives of amino acids. A new synthetic route is provided for preparing .alpha.-aminotrifluoromethylketones, by converting .alpha.-amino acids to oxazolidin-5-ones which are then reacted with Ruppert's Reagent. Fluorinated derivatives of amino acids and peptides are shown to have a new property of inhibiting or inactivating metallo-.beta.-lactamase enzymes, and are thus valuable components of antibacterial formulations. Certain of the trifluoromethyl derivatives of amino acids are new compounds per se.