Amphiphilic peptide compositions and analogues thereof

A process for inhibiting growth of a target cell comprising:

• administering to a host a biologically active amphiphilic peptide, said peptide including the following structural formula:
• R.sub.2 -R.sub.1 -R.sub.1 -R.sub.2 -R.sub.2 -R.sub.1 -R.sub.2 -R.sub.2 -R.sub.1 -R.sub.1 -R.sub.2 -R.sub.2 -R.sub.1 -R.sub.1,
• wherein R.sub.1 is a hydrophobic amino acid, and R.sub.2 is a basic hydrophilic or neutral hydrophilic amino acid, said peptide being administered in an amount effective to inhibit growth of a target cell in a host, wherein said hydrophobic amino acids are selected from the group consisting of Ala, Cys, Phe, Gly, Ile, Leu, Met, methionine sulfoxide, Val, Trp, and Tyr;
• said basic hydrophilic amino acids are selected from the group consisting of Lys, Arg, His, orn, homoarginine 2,4-diaminobutyric acid, and p-aminophenylalanine;
• and said neutral hydrophilic amino acids are selected from the group consisting of Asn, Gln, Ser, and Thr.

A biologically active amphiphilic peptide, said peptide being of the following structural formula:

• R.sub.1 -R.sub.2 -R.sub.1 -R.sub.1 -R.sub.2 -R.sub.2 -R.sub.1 -R.sub.1 -R.sub.2 -R.sub.2 -R.sub.1 -R.sub.2 -R.sub.2 -R.sub.1,
• wherein R.sub.1 is a hydrophobic amino acid, and R.sub.2 is a basic hydrophilic or neutral hydrophilic amino acid, wherein said hydrophobic amino acids are selected from the group consisting of Ala, Cys, Phe, Gly, Ile, Leu, Met, methionine sulfoxide, Val, Trp, and Tyr;
• said basic hydrophilic amino acids are selected from the group consisting of Lys, Arg, His, orn, homoarginine 2,4-diaminobutyric acid, and p-aminophenylalanine;
• and said neutral hydrophilic amino acids are selected from the group consisting of Asn, Gln, Ser, and Thr.

A process for inhibiting growth of a target cell, comprising:

• administering to a host a biologically active amphiphilic peptide, said peptide being of the following structural formula:
• R.sub.1 -R.sub.2 -R.sub.1 -R.sub.1 -R.sub.2 -R.sub.2 -R.sub.1 -R.sub.1 -R.sub.2 -R.sub.2 -R.sub.1 -R.sub.2 -R.sub.2 -R.sub.1 -R.sub.1 -R.sub.2 -R.sub.2 -R.sub.1,
• wherein R.sub.1 is a hydrophobic amino acid, and R.sub.2 is a basic hydrophilic or neutral hydrophilic amino acid, said peptide being administered in an amount effective to inhibit growth of a target cell in a host, wherein said hydrophobic amino acids are selected from the group consisting of Ala, Cys, Phe, Gly, Ile, Leu, Met, methionine sulfoxide, Val, Trp, and Tyr;
• said basic hydrophilic amino acids are selected from the group consisting of Lys, Arg, His, orn, homoarginine, 2,4-diaminobutyric acid, and p-aminophenylalanine;
• and said neutral hydrophilic amino acids are selected from the group consisting of Asn, Gln, Ser, and Thr.

A biologically active amphiphilic peptide, said biologically active amphiphilic peptide including the following structural formula Y.sub.10 :

• R.sub.1 -R.sub.1 -R.sub.2 -R.sub.2 -R.sub.1 -R.sub.2 -R.sub.2 -R.sub.1 -R.sub.1 -R.sub.2 -R.sub.2 -R.sub.1 -R.sub.1,
• wherein R.sub.1 is a hydrophobic amino acid, and R.sub.2 is a basic hydrophilic or neutral hydrophilic amino acid, wherein said hydrophobic amino acids are selected from the group consisting of Ala, Cys, Phe, Gly, Ile, Leu, Met, methionine sulfoxide, Val, Trp, and Tyr;
• said basic hydrophilic amino acids are selected from the group consisting of Lys, Arg, His, orn, homoarginine, 2,4-diaminobutyric acid, and p-aminophenylalanine;
• and said neutral hydrophilic amino acids are selected from the group consisting of Asn, Gln, Ser, and Thr.