Dipeptide alkyl esters and their uses

US5206221A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• The Board of Regents of the University of Texas System · US

Inventors

• Peter E. Lipsky · Dallas, US
• Dwain L. Thiele · Coppell, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 18, 1991
• Grant date: Apr 27, 1993
• Expiry date: Jan 18, 2011

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61K38/05
• WIPO field: Pharmaceuticals
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

An alkyl ester of dipeptide consisting essentially of natural or synthetic L-amino acids with hydrophobic side chains. Preferable amino acids are leucine, phenylalanine valine, isoleucine, alanine, proline, glycine or aspartic acid beta methyl ester. Preferable dipeptides are L leucyl L-leucine, L-leucyl L-phenylalanine, L-valyl L-phenylalanine, L-leucyl L-isoleucine, L-phenylalanyl L-phenylalanine, L-valyl L-leucine, L-leucyl L-alanine, L-leucine, L-leucyl L-valine, L-phenylalanyl L-valine, L glycyl L-leucine, L-leucyl L-glycine or L-aspartyl beta methyl ester L-phenylalaine. Most preferable dipeptides are L-leucyl L-leucine, L-leucyl L-phenylalanine, L-valyl L-phenylalanine, L-phenylalanyl L-leucine, L-leucyl L-isoleucine, L-phenylalanyl L-phenylalanine and L-valyl L-leucine. The alkyl ester of the dipeptide is most preferably a methyl ester and may also be an ethyl ester or alkyl of up to about four carbon atoms such as propyl, isopropyl, butyl or isobutyl. These alkyl esters of dipeptides consisting essentially of amino acids with hydrophobic side chains may be used to deplete cytotoxic T-lymphocytes or natural killer cells from organisms, cell populations or tissues.