The present invention relates to the use of the drug valproic acid and derivatives thereof as inhibitors of enzymes having histone deacetylase activity. The invention also relates to the use of those compounds for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of diseases which are associated with hypoacetylation of histones or in which induction of hyperacetylation has a beneficial effect for example by induction of differentiation and/or apoptosis in transformed cells.

A process for preparing unsaturated esters useful as intermediates for HDAC inhibitors, by reacting an aldehyde or ketone having the following formula I: ##STR00001## wherein R.sub.1 is an aromatic group or a combined aliphatic and aromatic group; X is --O--, --S--, --COO--, --OOC--, --CONR.sub.7--, or --R.sub.7NCO--; L.sub.1 an aliphatic linking group, an aromatic linking group, or a combined aliphatic and aromatic linking group; R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are each independently hydrogen, a hydroxy gr...

Histone deacetylase is a metallo-enzyme with zinc at the active site. Compounds having a zinc-binding moiety, for example, an alpha-chalcogenmethylcarbonyl group, such as an alpha-ketothio group, can inhibit histone deacetylase. Histone deacetylase inhibition can repress gene expression, including expression of genes related to tumor suppression. Accordingly, inhibition of histone deacetylase can provide an alternate route for treating cancer, hematological disorders, e.g., hemoglobinopathies, a...

This invention comprises the novel compounds of formula (I) wherein n, m, t, R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, L, Q, X, Y, Z and have defined meanings, having histone deacetylase inhibiting enzymatic activity; their preparation, compositions containing them and their use as a medicine ##STR00001##

Disclosed herein are carbonyl compounds of Formula I, II, or III, and others as described herein. ##STR00001## Also disclosed are methods of treating disease, such as cancer, neurological disorders, including polyglutamine-repeat disorders, anemias, thalassemias, inflammatory conditions, autoimmune diseases and cardiovascular conditions, using the compounds of the invention. In addition, methods of modulating the activity of histone deacetylase (HDAC) are also disclosed.

The invention includes antibiotic pharmaceutical compositions comprising eukaryotic histone H1 protein and methods of using eukaryotic histone H1 protein to kill or to inhibit the growth of microorganisms, including, but not limited to, human pathogenic bacteria. The invention further includes a eukaryotic histone H1-containing animal feed and methods of improving growth of an animal by supplying the feed to the animal. The invention still further includes a kit comprising a eukaryotic histone H...

The present invention is directed to novel nucleic acids that encode novel HDAC proteins, which have an affect on chromating structure and transcription. Also provided herein are vectors and host cells comprising those nucleic acid sequences, chimeric polypeptide molecules comprising the polypeptides of the present invention fused to heterologous polypeptide sequences, antibodies which bind to the polypeptides of the present invention and to methods of producing the polypeptides of the present i...

The invention includes antibiotic pharmaceutical compositions comprising eukaryotic histone H1 protein and methods of using eukaryotic histone H1 protein to kill or to inhibit the growth of microorganisms, including, but not limited to, human pathogenic bacteria. The invention further includes a eukaryotic histone H1-containing animal feed and methods of improving growth of an animal by supplying the feed to the animal. The invention still further includes a kit comprising a eukaryotic histone H...

A compound of formula (I) ##STR00001## wherein A and B are optionally substituted cyclohexenyl or phenyl groups, X is carbonyl or sulfonyl, and Y is 5 7 atoms-linker, is useful as histone deacetylase inhibitors, particularly for inhibiting cell proliferation.

The present invention is directed to novel nucleic acids that encode novel HDAC proteins, which have an affect on chromatin structure and transcription. Also provided herein are vectors and host cells comprising those nucleic acid sequences, chimeric polypeptide molecules comprising the polypeptides of the present invention fused to heterologous polypeptide sequences, antibodies which bind to the polypeptides of the present invention and to methods of producing the polypeptides of the present in...