| abstract |
Arginase enzyme inhibitors are disclosed for treating or diagnosing conditions characterized either by abnormally high arginase activity or abnormally low nitric oxide levels in a mammal, comprising administering compositions of the invention to the mammal. The invention includes a composition comprising an alpha-amino acid compound, or a derivative thereof, or a salt thereof, wherein a first substituent and a second substituent are linked to the alpha-carbon of the compound. The first substituent comprises a moiety selected from the group consisting of a boronic acid and N-hydroxy guanidine. The second substituent comprises a proximal nitrogen atom, wherein the proximal nitrogen is basic, further wherein the proximal nitrogen is separated from the alpha-carbon by a chain of two, three or four carbons, with the proviso that the compound is not 2-amino-6-borono-2-(3-(piperazin-1-yl)propyl)hexanoic acid, 2-(3-(4-acetylpiperazin- 1-yl)propyl)-2-aminb-6-boronohexanoic acid, 2-amino-6-borono-2-(3-(4-(4-cyanobenzoyl)piperazin-1-yl)propyl hexanoic acid, or 2-amino -6-borono-2-(3-(4-(3-methoxyphenylcarbamoyl)piperazin-1 -yljpropyl) hexanoic acid. |