Disclosed are various crystalline salt forms of Boc-D-Arg-DMT-Lys(Boc)-Phe-NH.sub.2.

Herein is reported a method for producing a fusion-polypeptide comprising the seeps of a) cultivating a mammalian cell comprising a nucleic acid encoding a variant fusion-polypeptide wherein the amino acid sequence of the fusion-polypeptide has been modified by replacing in a pro-fusion-polypeptide the endogenous protease cleavage site between the pro-peptide and the fusion-polypeptide with an exogenous (with respect to the origins of the parts of the fusion-polypeptide) or artificial protease cleavage site, and b) recovering the fusion-polypeptide or fusion-pro-polypeptide from the cell or the cultivation median and thereby producing the (recombinant) fusion-polypeptide.

The disclosure provides methods of preventing or treating Friedreich's ataxia in a mammalian subject, reducing risk factors, signs and/or symptoms associated with Friedreich's ataxia, and/or reducing the likelihood or severity of Friedreich's ataxia. The methods comprise administering to the subject an effective amount of an aromatic-cationic peptide to e.g., reduce oxidative stress, increase mitochondrial metabolism, or a combination thereof.

Disclosed herein are transfection complexes comprising at least one cell surface ligand; at least one helper lipid component; and a transfection enhancer. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions comprising the disclosed transfection complexes, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Further, disclosed are methods of transfecting a cell, the method comprising the steps of: obtaining a transfection complex as disclosed; and contacting a cell with the transfection complex.

The present invention relates to a method of forming a peptide of Formula (I) (P.sup.1-Xaa.sup.1-Xaa.sup.2-P.sup.2) by ligating a first peptide of Formula (II) (P.sup.1-Xaa.sup.1-X—R, wherein X is O or S) to a second peptide of Formula (III) (Xaa.sup.1-Xaa.sup.2-P.sup.2) by enzymatically cleaving the bond between “Asx” and “X” in the first peptide of Formula (II) and ligating the fragment P.sup.1-Asx of the first peptide to the second peptide of Formula (III), wherein the enzymatic cleavage and ligation reaction is catalyzed by butelase 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1) and the peptide of Formula (I) is a depsipeptide, preferably a thiodepsipeptide. Further encompassed are peptides and dendrimeric peptide assemblies prepared using the presently disclosed method, as well as use of the dendrimeric peptide assemblies as a vaccine, medicament, or diagnostic agent, particularly as an antimicrobial agent.

Methods for the synthesis of arginine-containing peptides are provided. The methods include a deprotection step that minimizes the transfer of by-products deriving from cleaved sulfonyl-5 based side chain protecting groups from arginine to amino acids carrying electron rich side chains.

The present disclosure provides methods to treat conditions, including cancer, using compounds that can target resistant cancer cells. The compounds can be used to sensitize resistant cancer cells or decrease the proliferation of cells. The compounds can target proteins in the DNA damage repair pathway leading to a decrease in DNA damage repair in target cells.

They have the general Formula X-(Xaa).sub.nLE(Xaa).sub.m-Z wherein Xaa is selected from L, K, E and D, either n=2 and m=0, or n=1 and m=1, at the N-terminal end X being selected from H, —CO—R.sup.1, —SO.sub.2-R.sup.1 or a biotinoyl group, at the C-terminal end Z being selected from OH, OR.sup.1, NH.sub.2, NHR.sup.1 or NR.sup.1R.sup.2, and R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 being selected from an alkyle, aryle, aralkyle, alkylaryl, alkoxy, saccharide and aryloxy, said group having from 1 to 24 carbon atoms. Preferred peptide sequences are X-LKLE-Z and X-ELED-Z. These tetrapeptides stimulate the synthesis of molecules constituting the ECM, in particular collagen 1 and 4, hyaluronic acid and fibronectin, and can be used for a cosmetic treatment, in particular anti-aging, anti-wrinkle and fine lines, to improve the skin mechanical properties, to increase skin density and volume, hydration, and/or to fight against stretch marks, and skin sagging.

The disclosure relates to a method for protecting a kidney from renal injury. For example, acute renal injury may be associated with decreased or blocked blood flow in the subject's kidney or exposure to a nephrotoxic agent, such as a radiocontrast dye. The methods include administering to the subject an effective amount of an aromatic-cationic peptide to a subject in need thereof.

The disclosure provides methods of preventing or treating heart failure in a mammalian subject. The methods comprise administering to the subject an effective amount of an aromatic-cationic peptide to subjects in need thereof.