Inhibitors of fibroblast activation protein alpha (FAP) and Prolyl Oligopeptidase (POP) are disclosed, along with their use in various therapies related to conditions, diseases, and disorders involving abnormal cell proliferation such as malignancies and angiogenesis, and in neural disorders such as Alzheimer's disease. Stalk portions of the inhibitor molecules, and substrates of FAP and POP, are also disclosed and may be used, for example, in screening methods for identifying such inhibitors.

The invention relates to compounds having either agonist or antagonist activities for the neurotrophins NGF and BDNF and represented by monomeric or dimeric substituted dipeptides that are analogs of the exposed portions of loop 1 or loop 4 regions of these neurotrophins near or at a beta-turn of the respective loop. N-acylated substituents of these dipeptides are biostereoisomers of the amino acid residues preceding these dipeptide sequences in the neurotrophin primary structure. The dimeric structure is produced advantageously by using hexamethylenediamine to which dipeptides are attached via their carboxyl groups. The claimed compounds displayed neuroprotective and differentiation-inducing activities in cellular models and enhanced the amount of phosphorylated tyrosine kinase A and the heat shock proteins Hsp32 and Hsp70 in the concentration range of 10.sup.9 to 10.sup.5 M. They also displayed neuroprotective, anti-parkinsonian, anti-stroke, anti-ischemic, anti-depressant and anti-amnestic activities in animal models and were active in experimental models of Alzheimer's disease. These in vivo effects of the claimed compounds are displayed in the dose range of 0.01 to 10 mg/kg when administered intraperitoneally.

The compounds of the present invention are represented by the following compounds having Formula (I) where the substituents R.sup.1-R.sup.10, X, Y, k, m, n, q, and s are as defined herein. These compounds are used in the treatment of cancer, immunologic disorders, autoimmune disorders, neurodegenerative disorders, or inflammatory disorders or for providing immunosuppression for transplanted organs or tissues.

The present invention relates to compounds of Formula I, IA, II, IIA, III, or IIIA and their pharmaceutical uses. Particular aspects of the invention relate to the use of those compounds for the selective inhibition of one or more caspases. Also described are methods where the compounds of Formula I, IA, II, IIA, III, or IIIA are used in the prevention and/or treatment of various diseases and conditions in subjects, including caspase-mediated diseases such as sepsis, myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, spinal cord injury (SCI), traumatic brain injury (TBI) and neurodegenerative disease (e.g. multiple sclerosis (MS) and Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's diseases).

In one aspect, the disclosure relates to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules comprising a ligand in the peptide binding groove of the MHC molecule, whereby the ligand comprises an azobenzene (Abc), and at least two amino acid residues separated by the azo-group of the Abc, and wherein the amino acid residues are positioned to interact with the peptide binding groove of the MHC molecule. The disclosure also relates, among others, to means and methods for producing and using such MHC molecules, and the ligands therefor.

The present invention concerns the separation, identification and characterization of active peptide fragments from peptones.

The invention relates to hemin derivatives of general formula (I), preparing and use thereof as antibacterial and/or antiviral agents, including, as a component in a pharmaceutical compositions. Advantages of the antibacterial and antiviral agents based on the hemin derivatives are in their biocompatibility, biodegradability, a high efficacy against resistant bacteria and widespread viruses which are dangerous to humans, and the lack of toxicity. ##STR00001##

The present invention provides a novel gellant capable of favorably gelatinizing an oily base. The present invention relates to a gellant for an oily base, which contains the peptide compound represented by the formula (1), and further relates to a gelatinous composition containing (A) the gellant for an oily base, and (B) an oily base. Formula (1): ##STR00001##
wherein the symbols are as described in the DESCRIPTION.

The invention provides bipartite inhibitors of bacterial RNA polymerase having the general structural formula (I):

X--Y(I)

wherein X is an moiety that binds to the rifamycin binding site of a bacterial RNA polymerase, Y is a moiety that binds to the GE23077 binding site of a bacterial RNA polymerase, and is a linker. The invention also provides compositions comprising such compounds, methods of making such compounds, and methods of using said compounds. The invention has applications in control of bacterial gene expression, control of bacterial growth, antibacterial chemistry, and antibacterial therapy.

A peptide selected from the group consisting of Ala-Hyp-Gly, Hyp-Gly-Pro, Leu-Hyp, Glu-Hyp, Gly-Pro-Hyp, Pro-Ala, Hyp-Gly and Pro-Hyp, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof has a myoblast differentiation promoting effect superior to conventional arts.