It has been discovered that phosphorylation-dependent uncoupling of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) plays an important role in endothelial cell (EC) barrier disruption. Compositions and methods to reduce or prevent eNOS uncoupling are disclosed. Decoy peptides that can prevent phosphorylation and mitochondrial redistribution of eNOS, reduce eNOS uncoupling, and preserve EC barrier function, and uses thereof, are described. The peptides improve lung vascular integrity in a mouse model of VILI. Thus, the decoy peptides can be used to treat or prevent diseases or disorders associated with increased vascular permeability such as ALI, ARDS, and VILI.

The presently disclosed subject matter relates to peptides and flavor compositions that include at least one, two, three, four, five or more peptide compounds, and screening methods for identifying the same. The flavor compositions can be used to enhance or modify the taste and/or flavor of various edible compositions such as human food products and pet food products.

The invention relates to novel benzodiazepine derivatives with antiproliferative activity and more specifically to novel benzodiazepine compounds of formula (I)-(VI). The invention also provides conjugates of the benzodiazepine compounds linked to a cell-binding agent. The invention further provides compositions and methods useful for inhibiting abnormal cell growth or treating a proliferative disorder in a mammal using the compounds or conjugates of the invention.

Compositions of foods, vitamin and mineral supplements, topical or oral drugs, and cosmetic products containing a small peptide or peptides for slowing degradation, for example by transition metals. The peptides are di, tri, terra-, and/or penta-peptides containing two or more aspartic acid residues. The degradation of several of the vitamin and other constituents vitamin-mineral supplements can be considerably slowed by composition incorporating such peptides, particularly if soluble (and thus bioavailable) forms of copper and/or iron are also present. The peptides can be hydrolyzed by the normal digestive process thus releasing bound metals. Multiple aspartate peptide(s) compositions with foods, topical or oral drugs, cosmetic, and hair care products can replace synthetic chelating preservative agents. Methods are also described to effectively slow degradation and preserve the above products using multiple aspartate peptides.

Disclosed herein, inter alia, are methods of use and composition of novel inhibitors that target the Smac binding site of a variety of inhibitor of apoptosis proteins that contain a Bir domain, including XIAP, cIAP1, cIAP2, or other IAP proteins.

The present invention relates to compounds having the formula [Co-enzyme A or analogue thereof]-Z1-Z2-Z3-Z4, wherein Z1 is a linker, Z2 and Z3 are peptides or peptide-based moieties, and Z4 is a C-terminal group. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising compounds of the invention, and their uses for the treatment of cancer, wound healing and nerve regeneration, inter alia.

Disclosed herein are methods and compositions for the treatment and/or prevention of diseases or conditions comprising administration of a therapeutic biological molecule, and/or naturally or artificially occurring derivatives, analogues, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, alone or in combination with one or more active agents (e.g., an aromatic-cationic peptide). The present technology provides compositions related to aromatic-cationic peptides linked to a therapeutic biological molecule and uses of the same. In some embodiments, the aromatic-cationic peptide comprises 2,6-dimethyl-Tyr-D-Arg-Phe-Lys-NH.sub.2, Phe-D-Arg-Phe-Lys-NH.sub.2, or D-Arg-2,6-Dmt-Lys-Phe-NH.sub.2.

The present invention discloses crosslinked poly(alkylene glycol) (PAG)-based hydrogel compositions, systems containing a plurality of cancer cells in contact with a cell culture media and encapsulated in the crosslinked PAG-based hydrogel composition and methods of making such crosslinked hydrogel compositions and systems. Also disclosed herein are methods of using such compositions and systems, such as, for example for screening an agent for effectiveness of the agent against cancer cells. Also disclosed herein are kits containing one or more components including one or more systems of the present disclosure and one or more instructions.

The disclosure pertains to epitopes identified in A-beta including conformational epitopes, antibodies thereto and methods of making and using immunogens and antibodies specific thereto.

Disclosed herein are polypeptides and fusion polypeptides that have anti-angiogenic activity that can be used to inhibit tumor growth and tumor metastasis. The polypeptide consists of 9 or less consecutive amino acid residues (e.g., 8, 7, 6, 5, or 4) comprising the active core amino acid sequence DWLP, or an amino acid substitution variant thereof. Specific amino acid substitutions are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the peptide consists essentially of 4-6 mers identified as exhibiting the activity of prosaposin A. Also disclosed herein are therapeutic compositions comprising the polypeptides and fusion polypeptides, and their use in the treatment, prevention, and inhibition of angiogenesis-related diseases and disorders such as cancer and cancer metastasis.