Abstract: A method of rational drug design includes simulating polypeptides in a way that predicts the most probable secondary and/or tertiary structures of a polypeptide, e.g., an oligopeptide, without any presumptions as to the conformation of the underlying primary or secondary structure. The method involves computer simulation of the polypeptide, and more particularly simulating a real-size primary structure in an aqueous environment, shrinking the size of the polypeptide isobarically and isothermally, and expanding the simulated polypeptide to its real size in selected time periods. A useful set of tools, termed Balaji plots, energy conformational maps, and probability maps, assist in identifying those portions of the predicted peptide structure that are most flexible or most rigid. The rational design of novel compounds, useful as drugs, e.g., bioactive peptidomimetic compounds, and constrained analogs thereof, is thus made possible using the simulation methods and tools of the described invention.

Abstract: Thienyl-, furyl- and pyrrolyl-sulfonamides and methods for modulating or altering the activity of the endothelin family of peptides are provided. In particular, N-(isoxazolyl)thienylsulfonamides, N-(isoxazolyl)furylsulfonamides and N-(isoxazolyl)pyrrolylsulfonamides and methods using these sulfonamides for inhibiting the binding of an endothelin peptide to an endothelin receptor by contacting the receptor with the sulfonamide are provided. Methods for treating endothelin-mediated disorders by administering effective amounts of one or more of these sulfonamides or prodrugs thereof that inhibit or increase the activity of endothelin are also provided.

Abstract: Thiophenyl-, furyl- and pyrrolyl-sulfonamides and methods for modulating or altering the activity of the endothelin family of peptides are provided. In particular, isoxazolyl-thiophenyl-sulfonamides, isoxazolyl-furyl-sulfonamides and isoxazolyl-pyrrolyl-sulfonamides and methods using these sulfonamides for inhibiting the binding of an endothelin peptide to an endothelin receptor by contacting the receptor with the sulfonamide are provided. Methods for treating endothelin-mediated disorders by administering effective amounts of one or more of these sulfonamides or prodrugs thereof that inhibit or increase the activity of endothelin are also provided.

Abstract: A method of rational drug design includes simulating polypeptides in a way that predicts the most probable secondary and/or tertiary structures of a polypeptide, e.g., an oligopeptide, without any presumptions as to the conformation of the underlying primary or secondary structure. The method involves computer simulation of the polypeptide, and more particularly simulating a real-size primary structure in an aqueous environment, shrinking the size of the polypeptide isobarically and isothermally, and expanding the simulated polypeptide to its real size in selected time periods. A useful set of tools, termed Balaji plots, energy conformational maps, and probability maps, assist in identifying those portions of the predicted peptide structure that are most flexible or most rigid. The rational design of novel compounds, useful as drugs, e.g., bioactive peptidomimetic compounds, and constrained analogs thereof, is thus made possible using the simulation methods and tools of the described invention.

Abstract: Sulfonamides and methods using these sulfonamides for inhibiting the binding of an endothelin peptide to an endothelin receptor by contacting the receptor with the sulfonamide are provided. Methods for treating endothelin-mediated disorders by administering effective amounts of one or more of these sulfonamides or prodrugs thereof that inhibit or increase the activity of endothelin are also provided. The sulfonamides have formula I: ##STR1## in which Ar.sup.1 is a 3- or 5-isoxazolyl and Ar.sup.2 is selected from among alkyl, including straight and branched chains, aromatic rings, fused aromatic rings and heterocyclic rings, including 5-membered heterocycles with one, two or more heteroatoms and fused ring analogs thereof and 6-membered rings with one, two or more heteroatoms and fused ring analogs thereof. Ar.sup.2 is preferably thiophenyl, furyl, pyrrolyl, naphthyl, and phenyl. Compounds in which Ar.sup.

Abstract: Compounds of formula (I) and pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds of formula (I): ##STR1## are provided. In formula (I): Ar is a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic or heterocyclic group; R is H or a substituted or unsubstituted straight or branched chain, cyclic or mixture of straight branched and cyclic alkyl, alkenyl, or alkynyl group having from 1-20 carbon atom; A is a functional group that bears a polar moiety; R.sub.1 is R, R--C=0, R substituted with one or more heteroatoms, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, or is aryl-(CH.sub.2).sub.n ; R.sub.2 is (CH.sub.2).sub.n, CHR, C(R).sub.2, COO, OCO, NHCO, CONH, SO, SO.sub.2 or NR; R.sub.3 and R.sub.4, which are the same or different or each may be absent, and are .dbd.O, H, O-aryl, OR, O-alkyl or alkyl, aryl, SR, S-aryl, NHR, NH-aryl, NR, or are other heteroaromatic groups; R.sub.5 is H, OH or R; E and F, which are the same or are different, are either N or (CH.sub.2).sub.

Abstract: N-(4-halo-isoxazolyl)sulfonamides and methods for modulating or altering the activity of the endothelin family of peptides are provided. In particular, N-(4-halo-3-isoxazolyl)sulfonamides and N-(4-halo-5-isoxazolyl)benzenesulfonamides and methods for inhibiting the binding of an endothelin peptide to an endothelin receptor or increasing the activity of endothelin peptides by contacting the receptor with a sulfonamide are provided. Methods for treating endothelin-mediated disorders by administering effective amounts of one or more of these sulfonamides or prodrugs thereof that inhibit or increase the activity of endothelin are also provided.

Abstract: A method of rational drug design includes simulating polypeptides in a way that predicts the most probable secondary and/or tertiary structures of a polypeptide, e.g., an oligopeptide, without any presumptions as to the conformation of the underlying primary or secondary structure. The method involves computer simulation of the polypeptide, and more particularly simulating a real-size primary structure in an aqueous environment, shrinking the size of the polypeptide isobarically and isothermally, and expanding the simulated polypeptide to its real size in selected time periods. A useful set of tools, termed Balaji plots, energy conformational maps, and probability maps, assist in identifying those portions of the predicted peptide structure that are most flexible or most rigid. The rational design of novel compounds, useful as drugs, e.g., bioactive peptidomimetic compounds, and constrained analogs thereof, is thus made possible using the simulation methods and tools of the described invention.