Abstract: Cysteine protease inhibitors which deactivate the protease by covalently bonding to the cysteine protease and releasing the enolate of a 1,3-dicarbonyl (or its enolic form). The cysteine protease inhibitors of the present invention accordingly comprise a first portion which targets a desired cysteine protease and positions the inhibitor near the thiolate anion portion of the active site of the protease, and a second portion which covalently bonds to the cysteine protease and irreversibly deactivates that protease by providing a carbonyl or carbonyl-equivalent which is attacked by the thiolate anion of the active site of the cysteine protease to sequentially cleave a &bgr;-dicarbonyl enol ether leaving group.

Abstract: A class of cysteine protease inhibitors which inactivate a cysteine protease by covalently bonding to the protease and releasing a heterocyclic leaving group is presented. The cysteine protease inhibitors of the present invention comprise a first portion which targets a desired cysteine protease and positions the inhibitor near the thiolate anion portion of the active site of the protease, and a second portion which covalently bonds to the cysteine protease and irreversibly deactivates that protease by providing a carbonyl or carbonyl-equivalent which is attacked by the thiolate anion of the active site of the cysteine protease to sequentially cleave a heterocyclic leaving group. The heterocyclic leaving group of the protease inhibitor is of the formula: —O— Het, where Het is a heterocycle having 4-7 atoms in the ring, with at least one of the heterocycle atoms being N, O or S.

Abstract: A class of cysteine protease inhibitors which inactivate a cysteine protease by covalently bonding to the protease and releasing a heterocyclic leaving group is presented. The cysteine protease inhibitors of the present invention comprise a first portion which targets a desired cysteine protease and positions the inhibitor near the thiolate anion portion of the active site of the protease, and a second portion which covalently bonds to the cysteine protease and irreversibly deactivates that protease by providing a carbonyl or carbonyl-equivalent which is attacked by the thiolate anion of the active site of the cysteine protease to sequentially cleave a heterocyclic leaving group. The heterocyclic leaving group of the protease inhibitor is of the formula: —O—Het, where Het is a heterocycle having 4-7 atoms in the ring, with at least one of the heterocycle atoms being N, O or S.

Abstract: Cysteine protease inhibitors which deactivate the protease by covalently bonding to the cysteine protease and releasing the enolate of a 1,3-dicarbonyl (or its enolic form). The cysteine protease inhibitors of the present invention accordingly comprise a first portion which targets a desired cysteine protease and positions the inhibitor near the thiolate anion portion of the active site of the protease, and a second portion which covalently bonds to the cysteine protease and irreversibly deactivates that protease by providing a carbonyl or carbonyl-equivalent which is attacked by the thiolate anion of the active site of the cysteine protease to sequentially cleave a .beta.-dicarbonyl enol ether leaving group.

Abstract: A class of cysteine protease inhibitors which inactivate a cysteine protease by covalently bonding to the protease and releasing a heterocyclic leaving group is presented. The cysteine protease inhibitors of the present invention comprise a first portion which targets a desired cysteine protease and positions the inhibitor near the thiolate anion portion of the active site of the protease, and a second portion which covalently bonds to the cysteine protease and irreversibly deactivates that protease by providing a carbonyl or carbonyl-equivalent which is attacked by the thiolate anion of the active site of the cysteine protease to sequentially cleave a heterocyclic leaving group. The heterocyclic leaving group of the protease inhibitor is of the formula: --O--Het, where Het is a heterocycle having 4-7 atoms in the ring, with at least one of the heterocycle atoms being N, O or S.

Abstract: Cysteine protease inhibitors which deactivate the protease by covalently bonding to the cysteine protease and releasing the enolate of a 1,3-dicarbonyl (or its enolic form). The cysteine protease inhibitors of the present invention accordingly comprise a first portion which targets a desired cysteine protease and positions the inhibitor near the thiolate anion portion of the active site of the protease, and a second portion which covalently bonds to the cysteine protease and irreversibly deactivates that protease by providing a carbonyl or carbonyl-equivalent which is attacked by the thiolate anion of the active site of the cysteine protease to sequentially cleave a .beta.-dicarbonyl enol ether leaving group.

Abstract: A class of cysteine protease inhibitors which inactivate a cysteine protease by covalently bonding to the protease and releasing a heterocyclic leaving group is presented. The cysteine protease inhibitors of the present invention comprise a first portion which targets a desired cysteine protease and positions the inhibitor near the thiolate anion portion of the active site of the protease, and a second portion which covalently bonds to the cysteine protease and irreversibly deactivates that protease by providing a carbonyl or carbonyl-equivalent which is attacked by the thiolate anion of the active site of the cysteine protease to sequentially cleave a heterocyclic leaving group. The heterocyclic leaving group of the protease inhibitor is of the formula: --O--Het, where Het is a heterocycle having 4-7 atoms in the ring, with at least one of the heterocycle atoms being N, O or S.

Abstract: A class of cysteine protease inhibitors which inactivate a cysteine protease by covalently bonding to the protease and releasing a heterocyclic leaving group is presented. The cysteine protease inhibitors of the present invention comprise a first portion which targets a desired cysteine protease and positions the inhibitor near the thiolate anion portion of the active site of the protease, and a second portion which covalently bonds to the cysteine protease and irreversibly deactivates that protease by providing a carbonyl or carbonyl-equivalent which is attacked by the thiolate anion of the active site of the cysteine protease to sequentially cleave a heterocyclic leaving group. The heterocyclic leaving group of the protease inhibitor is of the formula: --O-- Het, where Het is a heterocycle having 4-7 atoms in the ring, with at least one of the heterocycle atoms being N, O or S.

Abstract: A method of treating medical conditions with proteinase inhibitors of the formula: ##STR1## wherein B is H or an amino acid blocking group for the N-terminal amino acid nitrogen;R.sub.1 is an optionally protected .alpha.-amino acid side chain such that P.sub.2 is the residue of an .alpha.-amino acid selected from the group consisting of phenylalanine (Phe), leucine (Leu), tyrosine (Tyr) and valine (Val), and substituted analogs thereof, particularly including Tyr(OMe);R.sub.2 is an optionally protected .alpha.-amino acid side chain such that P.sub.1 is the residue of an .alpha.