Avicins and other thioesterification agents are used to modify cysteine groupsof signaling proteins in order to modify their activity. Pathologiesassociated with signaling proteins which are regulatable through this methodare treated using these thioesterification agents. These pathologies includethose involving proteins which modulate physiologic redox status of organismsincluding arthersclerosis, cancer, bacterial infection, inflammation, andneurological disorders.