Unlike other members of the MAPK family, ERK5 contains a large C-terminal domain with transcriptional activation capability in addition to an N-terminal canonical kinase domain. Genetic deletion of ERK5 is embryonic lethal, and tissue-restricted deletions have profound effects on erythroid development, cardiac function, and neurogenesis. In addition, depletion of ERK5 is antiinflammatory and antitumorigenic. Small molecule inhibition of ERK5 has been shown to have promising activity in cell and animal models of inflammation and oncology. Here we report the synthesis and biological characterization of potent, selective ERK5 inhibitors. In contrast to both genetic depletion/deletion of ERK5 and inhibition with previously reported compounds, inhibition of the kinase with the most selective of the new inhibitors had no antiinflammatory or antiproliferative activity. The source of efficacy in previously reported ERK5 inhibitors is shown to be off-target activity on bromodomains, conserved protein modules involved in recognition of acetyl-lysine residues during transcriptional processes. It is likely that phenotypes reported from genetic deletion or depletion of ERK5 arise from removal of a noncatalytic function of ERK5. The newly reported inhibitors should be useful in determining which of the many reported phenotypes are due to kinase activity and delineate which can be pharmacologically targeted.) is a member of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family, which includes ERK1/2, JNK1/2/3, and p38α/β/δ/γ (1). However, unlike the other MAPK members, ERK5 contains a unique 400-amino-acid C-terminal domain in addition to the kinase domain. Through the MAPK signaling cascade, mitogenactivated protein kinase kinase 5 (MEK5) activates ERK5 by phosphorylating the TEY motif in the N-terminal activation loop (2). This event unlocks the N-and C-terminal halves, allowing ERK5 to auto-phosphorylate multiple sites in its C-terminal region, which can then regulate nuclear shuttling and gene transcription (3, 4). Noncanonical pathways (including cyclin-dependent kinases during mitosis and ERK1/2 during growth factor stimulation) also exist for phosphorylation of sites in the ERK5 tail (5-7). Although ERK5 has been demonstrated to directly phosphorylate transcription factors (8-10), the noncatalytic C-terminal tail of ERK5 can also interact with transcription factors and influence gene expression (4,11,12).ERK5 can be activated in response to a range of mitogenic stimuli [e.g., growth factors, G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) agonists, cytokines] and cellular stresses (e.g., hypoxia, shear stress) (13). Like most kinases including MAPK members, ERK5 function is assumed to be driven by its kinase activity. ERK5 deletion is embryonic lethal in mice and a variety of tissue-or development-stage restricted KOs have shown clear phenotypes, suggesting that the catalytic function and/or an aspect of the nonkinase domain(s) have key roles in development and mature organ function (14-18). The availability of the first ERK5 inhibitor ...

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Polymerization of 2-oxazolines was carried out using bifunctional and tetrafunctional initiators. Allyl-type dihalides and xylylene dihalides were used as bifunctional initiators. The allyl-type dihalides employed are l,4-dibromo-2-butene and 3-iodo-2-(iodomethyl)-1-propene and the xylylene dihalides are pxylylene diiodide and p-, m•, and o-xylylene dibromides. The degree of polymerization (DP) of the resulting polymer was very close to the feed ratio of the monomer to initiator. From a kinetic study, it was found that the polymerization using these bifunctional initiators for 2-oxazoline is a "fast initiation-slow propagation system". Electrophilic reactivities of allylic dibromide and allyl bromide were also evaluated by MO calculation to confirm the polymerization system. Tetrakis (bromomethyl)ethylene, an allylic tetrahalide, was used as a tetrafunctional initiator. The DP value of the polymer agreed well with the feed ratio. From NMR and GPC analyses the polymer was of star-shaped structure.

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BackgroundIdiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a poorly understood progressive disease characterized by the recurrent damage of alveolar epithelial cells as well as inappropriate expansion and activation of fibroblasts resulting in pronounced extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition. Although recent studies have indicated the involvement of secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC), a matricellular protein regulating ECM deposition, in the pathogenesis of fibrosis, factors regulating SPARC expression or roles of SPARC in fibrosis have not been fully elucidated.ResultsAmong the profibrotic factors examined in cultured fibroblasts, we showed that SPARC expression was upregulated mainly by transforming growth factor (TGF)-β. We also showed that expression of SPARC in the lung was upregulated in the murine bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis model, which was inhibited by TGF-β receptor I inhibitor. Knockdown of SPARC in fibroblasts using siRNA or treatment with the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine attenuated epithelial cell injury induced by TGF-β-activated fibroblasts in a coculture system. We also demonstrated that SPARC was required for hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production in fibroblasts treated with TGF-β. Furthermore, TGF-β activated integrin-linked kinase (ILK), which was inhibited by SPARC siRNA. Knockdown of ILK attenuated extracellular H2O2 generation in TGF-β-stimulated fibroblasts. Our results indicated that SPARC is upregulated by TGF-β and is required for TGF-β-induced H2O2 production via activation of ILK, and this H2O2 production from fibroblasts is capable of causing epithelial cell injury.ConclusionsThe results presented in this study suggest that SPARC plays a role in epithelial damage in the IPF lung via enhanced H2O2 production from fibroblasts activated by TGF-β. Therefore, SPARC inhibition may prevent epithelial injury in IPF lung and represent a potential therapeutic approach for IPF.