Functional MRI changes in the central motor system in myotonic dystrophy type 1

Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is a multisystemic disease involving multiple organ systems including central nervous system (CNS) and muscles. Few studies have focused on the central motor system in DM1, pointing to a subclinical abnormality in the CNS. The aim of our study was to investigate patterns of cerebral activation in DM1 during a motor task using functional MRI (fMRI). Fifteen DM1 patients, aged 20 to 59 years, and 15 controls of comparable age were scanned during a self-paced sequential finger-to-thumb opposition task of their dominant right hand. Functional MRI images were analyzed using SPM99. Patients underwent clinical and genetic assessment; all subjects underwent a conventional MR study. Myotonic dystrophy type 1 patients showed greater activation than controls in bilateral sensorimotor areas and inferior parietal lobules, basal ganglia and thalami, in the ipsilateral premotor area, insula and supplementary motor area (corrected P<.05). Analysis of the interaction between disease and age showed that correlation with age was significantly greater in patients than in controls in bilateral sensorimotor areas and in contralateral parietal areas. Other clinical and MR characteristics did not correlate with fMRI. Functional changes in DM1 may represent compensatory mechanisms such as reorganization and redistribution of functional networks to compensate for ultrastructural and neurochemical changes occurring as part of the accelerated aging process.     

Methacrylic Polymers Bearing in the Side-Chain an Optically Active Moiety Linked to the trans-4-Azobenzene Chromophore: Chiroptical Properties of Poly[(S)-(+)-N-methyl-(2-methacryloyloxypropanoyl)-4-aminoazobenzene]

The synthesis by radical homopolymerization of a novel optically active methacrylic polymer containing a side-chain chiral moiety linked to a photochromic chromophore has been carried out starting from the related monomer trans-(S)-(+)-N-methyl-(2-methacryloyloxypropanoyl)-4-aminoazobenzene. The chiroptical properties in solution of the polymer have been investigated by circular dichroism and compared with those of the corresponding low molecular weight model compound, trans-(S)-(+)-N-methyl-(2-pivaloyloxypropanoyl)-4-aminoazobenzene. The optical activity displayed by the polymer is discussed in terms of extent of chiral conformations assumed by the macromolecules as a consequence of dipole-dipole interactions between the azoaromatic chromophores.     

Conformationally Controlled sp3-Hydrocarbon-Based α-Helix Mimetics

With over 60 % of protein–protein interfaces featuring an α-helix, the use of α-helix mimetics as inhibitors of these interactions is a prevalent therapeutic strategy. However, methods to control the conformation of mimetics, thus enabling maximum efficacy, can be restrictive. Alternatively, conformation can be controlled through the introduction of destabilizing syn-pentane interactions. This tactic, which is often adopted by Nature, is not a common feature of lead optimization owing to the significant synthetic effort required. Through assembly-line synthesis with NMR and computational analysis, we have shown that alternating syn–anti configured contiguously substituted hydrocarbons, by avoiding syn-pentane interactions, adopt well-defined conformations that present functional groups in an arrangement that mimics the α-helix. The design of a p53 mimetic that binds to Mdm2 with moderate to good affinity, demonstrates the therapeutic promise of these scaffolds.