Investigating the role of c-Jun N-terminal kinases in the proliferation of Werner syndrome fibroblasts using diaminopyridine inhibitors

ABSTRACT: Fibroblasts derived from the progeroid Werner syndrome show reduced replicative lifespan and a "stressed" morphology, both alleviated using the MAP kinase inhibitor SB203580. However, interpretation of these data is problematical because although SB203580 has the stress-activated kinases p38 and JNK1/2 as its preferred targets, it does show relatively low overall kinase selectivity. Several lines of data support a role for both p38 and JNK1/2 activation in the control of cellular proliferation and also the pathology of diseases of ageing, including type II diabetes, diseases to which Werner Syndrome individuals are prone, thus making the use of JNK inhibitors attractive as possible therapeutics. We have thus tested the effects of the widely used JNK inhibitor SP600125 on the proliferation and morphology of WS cells. In addition we synthesised and tested two recently described aminopyridine based inhibitors. SP600125 treatment resulted in the cessation of proliferation of WS cells and resulted in a senescent-like cellular phenotype that does not appear to be related to the inhibition of JNK1/2. In contrast, use of the more selective aminopyridine CMPD 6o at concentrations that fully inhibit JNK1/2 had a positive effect on cellular proliferation of immortalised WS cells, but no effect on the replicative lifespan of primary WS fibroblasts. In addition, CMPD 6o corrected the stressed WS cellular morphology. The aminopyridine CMPD 6r, however, had little effect on WS cells. CMDP 6o was also found to be a weak inhibitor of MK2, which may partially explain its effects on WS cells, since MK2 is known to be involved in regulating cellular morphology via HSP27 phosphorylation, and is thought to play a role in cell cycle arrest. These data suggest that total JNK1/2 activity does not play a substantial role in the proliferation control in WS cells.     

Alternierende Copolymerisation von CO2 und Propylenoxid in Gegenwart von organometallischen Katalysatoren

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Influence of the soft segment length on the properties of water‐cured poly(carbonate‐urethane‐urea)s

Poly(carbonate‐urethane‐urea)s (PCUU) based on oligocarbonate diols (M_n ≈ 2000) with different length of the hydrocarbon chain as soft segments were synthesized and investigated. Carbonate oligomerols were obtained in a two‐step method from dimethyl carbonate (DMC) and linear α,ω‐diols (1,4‐butanediol, 1,5‐pentanediol, 1,6‐hexanediol, 1,9‐nonanediol, 1,10‐dekanediol and 1,12‐dodecanediol). Oligo(trimethylene carbonate) diol was synthesized using ring‐opening polymerization of trimethylence carbonate. PCUUs were obtained by prepolymer method using isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) and water as a chain extender. Changes in polymers properties with increase of methylene group number between carbonate linkages were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA), tensile strength and hardness measurements. The thermal stability was also analyzed by means of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Based on FTIR analysis influence of methylene groups number between carbonate linkages on phase separation and concentration of allophanate and biuret groups in the samples were investigated. The obtained poly(carbonate‐urethane‐urea)s exhibited very good mechanical properties. Tensile strength and elongation at break were 40 MPa and 400–600%, respectively, depending on the oligocarbonate used. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Copolymers dispersions designed to shaping of ceramic materials

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - To study the effect of ionic liquids (ILs) of the microstructure on the surface of the coal, four ILs ([Emim][BF4], [Bmim][BF4], [Bmim][NO3], and...     

Vinyl Acetate Copolymers in Die Pressing of Alumina

The studies on the application of the emulsions of poly(vinyl acetate-co-allyl ether)s containing nonionic hydrophilic poly(oxyethylene) fragments as binders in the die pressing of alumina is presented. It was found that introduction of hydrophilic fragments into molecules of a typical water dispersible polymer led to better polymer affinity to the ceramic powders. It was also shown that low molecular mass of such copolymers should be relatively low ca 1500 g mol^–1 to increase the density and thickening uniformity of the samples before and after sintering. The resultant sinters indicated exceptionally high mechanical strength (bending strength ca 500 MPa). This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Direct synthesis of polyamides by N-acyl phosphoramidites

A variety of N-acyl phosphoramidites were prepared from chlorophosphites and amide derivatives, and their structures were determined with the aid of ¹H-, ¹³C-, and ³¹P-NMR, and IR spectroscopies. These phosphoramidites were employed in direct polycondensation reaction of dicarboxylic acids and diamines under various conditions resulting in polyamides with inherent viscosities of 0.1 to 1.13. The best results were obtained when aliphatic dicarboxylic acids and aromatic diamines were condensed by 2-(N-methylacetamido)-1,3,2-dioxaphospholane in nitriles.     

Direct synthesis of a polyamide by an enol phosphite and imidazole

Direct polycondensation of various dicarboxylic acids and diamines was effected under mild conditions by using an enol phosphite, diethyl 1-methyl-3-oxo-1-butenyl phosphite (I), in the presence of imidazole. To check the activity of the enol phosphite and various organic bases in an amidation reaction, the model reaction of acetic acid and aniline was carried out, and the yield of acetanilide was estimated by means of gas chromatography. Among organic bases, imidazole was the best in terms of yield of acetanilide. Polycondensation performed by varying solvents, temperature, and amount of imidazole resulted in high yields of polyamides with inherent viscosities of 0.1-0.25.