abstract |
The compounds of the invention are generally described by the formula:orand the salts, esters, amides, and acyl forms thereof. Each position represented by a letter indicates a single amino acid residue: B is a basic or polar/large amino acid or a modified form thereof; X is a small or hydrophobic amino acid or a modified form thereof; X* is a small or polar/large amino acid or a modified form thereof; Z is a polar/large or hydrophobic amino acid or a modified form thereof; Z* is Proline or a polar/large or hydrophobic amino acid or a modified form thereof. As described below, one or more of the peptide linkages between the amino acid residues may be replaced by a peptide linkage mimic.These compounds may be used as molecular building blocks to create compounds that are optimized for inhibiting the protease activity of Botulinum B and tetanus toxins. |