Controlled Radical Homopolymerization of Representative Cationically Polymerizable Vinyl Ethers.

Facile direct radical homopolymerization of vinyl ethers without a hydroxy group was achieved up to near full conversion. This polymerization was conducted in water suspension in the presence of lithium hydroxide using a thermally triggered azo-initiator of dimethyl 2,2'-azobis(2-methylpropionate). In the polymerization system, appropriate hydrogen bonding and cation-π interactions under basic conditions are keys to the successful direct radical homopolymerization.

Calreticulin represses E-cadherin gene expression in Madin-Darby canine kidney cells via Slug.

Calreticulin (CRT) is a multifunctional Ca(2+)-binding molecular chaperone in the endoplasmic reticulum. In mammals, the expression level of CRT differs markedly in a variety of organs and tissues, suggesting that CRT plays a specific role in each cell type. In the present study, we focused on CRT functions in the kidney, where overall expression of CRT is quite low, and established CRT-overexpressing kidney epithelial cell-derived Madin-Darby canine kidney cells by gene transfection.

Glutaredoxin modulates platelet-derived growth factor-dependent cell signaling by regulating the redox status of low molecular weight protein-tyrosine phosphatase.

Glutaredoxin (GRX) is a glutathione-disulfide oxidoreductase involved in various cellular functions, including the redox-dependent regulation of certain integral proteins. Here we demonstrated that overexpression of GRX suppressed the proliferation of myocardiac H9c2 cells treated with platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB. After stimulation with PDGF-BB, the phosphorylation of PDGF receptor (PDGFR) beta was suppressed in GRX gene-transfected cells, compared with controls.