Global Companies and Global Regulation

In a global economy, corporate responsibility has to interact with the specific social and environmental aspects of each Nation-State, which consequently are not viewed as local differences but rather as elements of market competition. This interaction has to concentrate on complex matters such as profitability and the protection of financial equilibriums, respect for ethical codes, environmental concerns and social profiles in general

Is There a Morally Right Price for Anti-Retroviral Drugs in the Developing World?

Peer reviewe

nNOS inhibition, antimicrobial and anticancer activity of the amphibian skin peptide, citropin 1.1 and synthetic modifications

The definitive version is available at www.blackwell-synergy.comA large number of bioactive peptides have been isolated from amphibian skin secretions. These peptides have a variety of actions including antibiotic and anticancer activities and the inhibition of neuronal nitric oxide synthase. We have investigated the structure–activity relationship of citropin 1.1, a broad-spectrum antibiotic and anticancer agent that also causes inhibition of neuronal nitric oxide synthase, by making a number of synthetically modified analogues. Citropin 1.1 has been shown previously to form an amphipathic α-helix in aqueous trifluoroethanol. The results of the structure–activity studies indicate the terminal residues are important for bacterial activity and increasing the overall positive charge, while maintaining an amphipathic distribution of residues, increases activity against Gram-negative organisms. Anticancer activity generally mirrors antibiotic activity suggesting a common mechanism of action. The N-terminal residues are important for inhibition of neuronal nitric oxide synthase, as is an overall positive charge greater than three. The structure of one of the more active synthetic modifications (A4K14-citropin 1.1) was determined in aqueous trifluoroethanol, showing that this peptide also forms an amphipathic α-helix.Jason Doyle, Craig S. Brinkworth, Kate L. Wegener, John A. Carver, Lyndon E. Llewellyn, Ian N. Olver, John H. Bowie, Paul A. Wabnitz, Michael J. Tyle