The present invention relates to compounds which modulate (e.g., inhibit) the activity of beta-hydrolase (e.g., ASPH), including novel 2-aryl-5-amino-3(2H)-furanone and 2-heteroaryl-5-amino-3(2H)-furanone compounds, pharmaceutical compositions thereof, methods for their synthesis, and methods of using these compounds to modulate the activity of ASPH in an a cell-free sample, a cell-based assay, and in a subject. Other aspects of the invention relate to use of the compounds disclosed herein to ameliorate or treat cell proliferation disorders.

The present invention relates to compounds which modulate (e.g., inhibit) the activity of beta-hydrolase (e.g., ASPH), including novel 2-aryl-5-amino-3(2H)-furanone and 2-heteroaryl-5-amino-3(2H)-furanone compounds, pharmaceutical compositions thereof, methods for their synthesis, and methods of using these compounds to modulate the activity of ASPH in an a cell-free sample, a cell-based assay, and in a subject. Other aspects of the invention relate to use of the compounds disclosed herein to ameliorate or treat cell proliferation disorders.

The present invention discloses compounds of Formula (I), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters, or prodrugs thereof:

X-A-Y-L-R(I)

which inhibit the protein(s) encoded by hepatitis B virus (HBV) or interfere with the function of the HBV life cycle of the hepatitis B virus and are also useful as antiviral agents. The present invention further relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the aforementioned compounds for administration to a subject suffering from HBV infection. The invention also relates to methods of treating an HBV infection in a subject by administering a pharmaceutical composition comprising the compounds of the present invention.

The present invention discloses compounds of Formula (I), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters, or prodrugs thereof:

X-A-Y-L-R(I)

which inhibit the protein(s) encoded by hepatitis B virus (HBV) or interfere with the function of the HBV life cycle of the hepatitis B virus and are also useful as antiviral agents. The present invention further relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the aforementioned compounds for administration to a subject suffering from HBV infection. The invention also relates to methods of treating an HBV infection in a subject by administering a pharmaceutical composition comprising the compounds of the present invention.

The present invention provides compounds and methods for modulation of the quorum sensing of bacteria. In an embodiment, the compounds of the present invention are able to act as replacements for naturally occurring bacterial quorum sensing ligands in a ligand-protein binding system; that is, they imitate the effect of natural ligands and produce an agonistic effect. In another embodiment, the compounds of the present invention are able to act in a manner which disturbs or inhibits the naturally occurring ligand-protein binding system in quorum sensing bacteria; that is, they produce an antagonistic effect. The compounds of the present invention comprise N-acylated-homoserine lactones (AHLs) comprised of a wide range of acyl groups.

The present invention provides compounds and methods for modulation of the quorum sensing of bacteria. In an embodiment, the compounds of the present invention are able to act as replacements for naturally occurring bacterial quorum sensing ligands in a ligand-protein binding system; that is, they imitate the effect of natural ligands and produce an agonistic effect. In another embodiment, the compounds of the present invention are able to act in a manner which disturbs or inhibits the naturally occurring ligand-protein binding system in quorum sensing bacteria; that is, they produce an antagonistic effect. The compounds of the present invention comprise N-acylated-homoserine lactones (AHLs) comprised of a wide range of acyl groups.

Pharmaceutical compositions of the invention comprise functionalized lactone derivatives having a disease-modifying action in the treatment of diseases associated with dysregulation of sigma-2 receptor activity.

The present invention discloses compounds of Formula (I), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters, or prodrugs thereof:
X-A-Y-L-R(I)
which inhibit the protein(s) encoded by hepatitis B virus (HBV) or interfere with the function of the HBV life cycle of the hepatitis B virus and are also useful as antiviral agents. The present invention further relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the aforementioned compounds for administration to a subject suffering from HBV infection. The invention also relates to methods of treating an HBV infection in a subject by administering a pharmaceutical composition comprising the compounds of the present invention.

The present invention discloses compounds of Formula (I), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters, or prodrugs thereof:
X-A-Y-L-R(I)
which inhibit the protein(s) encoded by hepatitis B virus (HBV) or interfere with the function of the HBV life cycle of the hepatitis B virus and are also useful as antiviral agents. The present invention further relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the aforementioned compounds for administration to a subject suffering from HBV infection. The invention also relates to methods of treating an HBV infection in a subject by administering a pharmaceutical composition comprising the compounds of the present invention.

Cranial placodes are embryonic structures essential for sensory and endocrine organ development. The efficient derivation of cranial placodes from human pluripotent stem cells is disclosed where the timed removal of the BMP inhibitor Noggin, a component of the dual-SMAD inhibition strategy of neural induction, triggers placode induction at the expense of CNS fates. Further fate specification at the pre-placode stage enables the selective generation of placode-derived trigeminal ganglia capable of in vivo engraftment, mature lens fibers and anterior pituitary hormone-producing cells that upon transplantation produce hormones including, but not limited to, human growth hormone and adrenocortiocotropic hormone in vivo. Alternatively, anterior pituitary hormone-producing cells are generated in cell culture systems in vitro.