1 Microtubule binding drugs are of special interest as they have important roles in the modulation of cellular functions and many of them act as anticancer agents. 4-Amino-5-benzoyl-2-(4-methoxyphenylamino)thiazole (DAT1) was identified as one of the active compounds from a series of diaminoketothiazoles in a cell-based screening assay to discover cytotoxic compounds. 2 DAT1 shows cytotoxicity with GI 50 values ranging from 0.05 to 1 mM in different malignant cell lines with an average value of 0.35 mM. It blocks mitosis in the prometaphase and metaphase stages. In HeLa cells, DAT1 blocks the spindle function by disturbing spindle microtubule and chromosome organization. 3 The drug also inhibits assembly of brain microtubules and binds tubulin specifically at a single site with induction of fluorescence. The dissociation constant of DAT1 binding to tubulin was determined as 2.971 mM at 241C. The binding site of DAT1 on tubulin overlaps with that of the conventional colchicine-binding site. 4 DAT1 can thus be considered as a lead compound of a new class of small molecules and this study can be used as a step to develop potent antimitotic agents for the control of cytoskeletal functions and cell proliferation. It would also be an interesting probe for the structure-function studies of tubulinmicrotubule system.

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in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com).The synthesis of novel bis(diamino)thiazoles has been achieved by reacting bis(bromoacetyl)benzene and 1-alkyl(or aryl)-3-(N-nitroamidino)thioureas in presence of triethylamine. These new compounds were characterized by spectral analysis and screened for antimicrobial activities.

Alkaloids U 0600Synthesis and Cytotoxicity Studies of Thiazole Analogues of the Anticancer Marine Alkaloid Dendrodoine. -Among a variety of dendrodoine analogues, the derivative (IIIc) shows significant in vitro cytotoxicity against a panel of human cancer cell lines. -(REJI, T. F. A. F.; DEVI, S. K. C.; THOMAS, K. K.; SREEJALEKSHMI, K. G.; MANJU, S. L.; FRANCIS, M.; PHILIP, S. K.; BHARATHAN, A.; RAJASEKHARAN*, K. N.; Indian J. Chem.

Thiazole derivatives R 0260 Synthesis and Antimicrobial Studies of Novel Bis(diamino)thiazoles. -Ten title compounds of type (III) are prepared. Some of them exhibit antibacterial and antifungal effects (table). -(MANJU*, S. L.; DEVI, S. K. C.; RAJASEKHARAN, K. N.; J. Heterocycl. Chem. 46 (2009) 3, 455-458; Org. Chem. Div., Vellore Inst. Technol., Vellore 632 104, Tamilnadu, India; Eng.) -H. Haber 41-132