Structure-activity relationships of thiadiazole agonists of the human secretin receptor.

Agonists of the secretin receptor have potential applications for diseases of the cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and metabolic systems, yet no clinically-active non-peptidyl agonists of this receptor have yet been developed. In the current work, we have identified a new small molecule lead compound with this pharmacological profile. We have prepared and characterized a systematic structure-activity series around this thiadiazole scaffold to better understand the molecular determinants of its activity.

Serine-Threonine Kinase TAO3-Mediated Trafficking of Endosomes Containing the Invadopodia Scaffold TKS5α Promotes Cancer Invasion and Tumor Growth.

Invadopodia are actin-based proteolytic membrane protrusions required for invasive behavior and tumor growth. In this study, we used our high-content screening assay to identify kinases whose activity affects invadopodia formation. Among the top hits selected for further analysis was TAO3, an STE20-like kinase of the GCK subfamily.

Centralized banks for human embryonic stem cells: a worthwhile challenge.

Centralized banking of human embryonic stem (hES) cells is an endeavor that can benefit individual research efforts and enhance international collaboration but is complicated by the fact that the science is rapidly evolving in an environment of heterogeneous laws, guidelines, and ethical standards. Written from the vantage point of regulatory professionals, this article provides an overview of the benefits of and challenges facing hESC banking enterprises in general with a focus on a global centralized banking effort.

Synthesis and agrochemical screening of a library of natural product-like bicyclo[2,2,2]octenones.

A general route to a series of differentially substituted bicyclo[2,2,2]octenones has been developed, making use of the in situ intramolecular Diels Alder reaction of masked ortho-benzoquinones. This approach was used to synthesize a series of thirteen key acid-containing templates from which a solution phase discovery library of 1126 diverse amides was then constructed. The rigid polycyclic nature of the templates and the prevalence of oxygenated functionality confer natural product-like qualities and three-dimensional diversity.