Interleukin 1.beta. protease and interleukin 1.beta. protease inhibitors

Abstract

There is disclosed an isolated polypeptide and derivatives thereof having protease biological activity for human precursor IL-1.beta. and for a substrate comprising: R.sub.1 -Asp-R.sub.2 -R.sub.3 wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.3 are independently any D or L isomer amino acid, R.sub.2 is Ala or Gly, and wherein the specific protease cleavage site is between Asp and R.sub.2. Inhibitor compounds, compositions and methods for inhibiting Interleukin 1.beta. protease activity are also disclosed. The inhibitor compounds comprise an amino acid sequence of from 1 to about 5 amino acids having an N-terminal blocking group and a C-terminal Asp residue connected to an electronegative leaving group, wherein the amino acid sequence corresponds to the sequence Ala-Tyr-Val-His-Asp.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.