Patent ID: 7635693

Claim:
A method for inducing a cellular event selected from the group consisting of cell death, caspase cascade activation, mitochondrial cytochrome C release into cytoplasm, damage to DNA of a cell, and p38 MAP kinase activation, or for inhibiting an event selected from the group consisting of cell proliferation and DNA replication, said method comprising contacting or exposing a cell to an N-thiolated β-lactam compound having the structure of Formula A, in which R 1 is a hydrocarbon group having 1-8 carbon atoms; R 3 is an —S-alkyl or —S-aryl wherein the alkyl or aryl group has 1-12 carbon atoms; and R 4 is cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, or heterocycloalkenyl, any of which can be optionally substituted with R 2 , wherein R 2 is one or more halides, hydroxyl, nitro, cyano, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, heterocycloalkenyl, alkoxy, amido, amino, —CO 2 alkyl, wherein the alkyl group has 1-10 carbon atoms, CHO, COOH, or COX, wherein X is Cl, F, Br, or I; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, in an amount effective to induce or inhibit said event.