PEPSTATIN-DERIVATIVES FOR THE TREATMENT AND DETECTPEPSTATIN-DERIVATIVES FOR THE TREATMENT AND DETECTION OF FUNGAL INFECTIONS ION OF FUNGAL INFECTIONS

摘要

The subject invention provides novel proteinase inhibitors that find use in both the isolation of preoteins and the treatment and prevention of animal and plant diseases, particularly diseases stemming from fungal infections. Novel proteinase inhibitors of the subject invention are the polypeptides according to the formula (I): A-B-G-C-Sta-Ala-Sta-E-F, wherein A is absent or an amino acid blocking group; B is either absent or peptide consisting of 1-3 amino acids; C is an amino acid, E is either absent or selected from the group consisting of glycine and β-alanine; F is either absent or a 1-5 amino acid peptide composed of amino acids that are either positively charged, negatively charged, or have hydroxyl groups on side chains; and G is an amino acid. Preferred embodiments of the compounds of fomula (I) are: (II) Iva-Val-Val-Sta-Ala-Sta-Bal-D-Asp-D-Asp, (III) Iva-Val-Val-Sta-Ala-Sta-D-Ser-D-Ser, (IV) D-Asp-Bal-Val-Val-Val-Sta-Ala-Sta-Bal-D-Asp, and (V) Iva-Dab-Val-Sta-Ala-Sta. Also described are methods for assaying for the presence of fungal proteinases. The invention also provides kits for performing assays for fungal proteinases.