This invention relates to hydroxamic acid derivatives having a sulfonamide linkage, that are inhibitors of histone deacetylase (HDAC), and are useful in the prevention and/or treatment of cellular proliferative diseases, for example cancer, autoimmune, allergic and inflammatory diseases, diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) such as neurodegenerative diseases, and in the prevention and/or treatment of restenosis.

Provided are crystals relating to histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC-2) and its various uses.

A method for identifying a compound that inhibits the NAD.sup.+-dependent deacetylase activity of a SIR2 protein is disclosed. These compounds are useful for the treatment of cancers and other diseases, through the activation of silenced genes, through the promotion of apoptosis in cancerous cells, and through the inhibition of transcriptional repressor activity in oncogenes.

This invention relates to iminodiacetic acid and diamine hydroxamic acid derivatives, that are inhibitors of histone deacetylase (HDAC), and are useful in the prevention and/or treatment of cellular proliferative diseases, for example cancer, autoimmune, allergic and inflammatory diseases, diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) such as neurodegenerative diseases, and in the prevention and/or treatment of restenosis.

The identification and cloning of histone deacetylase 9 (HDAC9) is disclosed, and in particular full length HCAC9 polypeptides and HDAC9 polypeptides which have deacetylase activity, and to nucleic acid molecules encoding these polypeptides. The uses of these polypeptides and nucleic acid molecules are disclosed, for example for screening for compounds that are capable of modulating HDAC9 biological activity.

The invention relates to the inhibition of histone deacetylase. The invention provides compounds and methods for inhibiting histone deacetylase enzymatic activity. The invention also provides compositions and methods for treating cell proliferative diseases and conditions.

Histone deacetylase inhibitors and uses thereof are provided that have the general formula: ##STR00001## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4, R.sub.5, R.sub.6, R.sub.7, R.sub.8, M and L have the definitions as described herein.

The invention relates to the inhibition of histone deacetylase. The invention provides compounds and methods for inhibiting histone deacetylase enzymatic activity. The invention also provides compositions and methods for treating cell proliferative diseases and conditions.

The invention provides compoods and methods for treating cell proliferative-diseases. The invention provides new inhibitors of histone deacetylase enzymatic activity, compositions of the compounds comprising the inhibitors and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, excipient, or diluent, and methods of using the compounds to inhibit cellular proliferation in vitro and therapeutically.

Histone deacetylase inhibition provides a target for identifying potential antiprotozoal compounds. Histone deacetylase inhibitors are useful as therapeutic agents against protozoal infections.