Abstract: The current disclosure provides compositions and methods for wound closure. The disclosure provides an device comprising: a) a material with a surface comprising a modified fibrinogen or a modified fibrin, wherein the modified fibrinogen or modified fibrin is more resistant to fibrinolysis than an unmodified fibrinogen or an unmodified fibrin, respectively; and b) one or more dispersible fibrinolysis inhibitors in contact with the surface comprising a plasmin inhibitor; and c) optionally, a thrombin agent or platelets.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for decreasing one or more symptoms of cancer in a patient requiring the steps of determining the activation or inactivation of the MK2 signaling pathway and, based on these determinations, administering either a MK2 inhibitor or a combination of a MK2 inhibitor and a chemotherapeutic agent, or a chemotherapeutic agent to the patient. The invention further provides methods for identifying a cancer patient that may selectively benefit from the administration of a chemotherapeutic agent, or the administration of a MK2 inhibitor or the combination of a MK2 inhibitor and a chemotherapeutic agent, requiring the steps of determining the activation or inactivation of the MK2 signaling pathway. The invention additionally provides methods and kits for diagnosing a chemotherapy-sensitive or chemotherapy-resistant cancer in a subject that require the step of (or reagents for) determining the activation or inactivation of the MK2 signaling pathway.

Abstract: The present invention relates to therapeutic compounds and methods of use of these therapeutic compounds for treating cellular proliferative disorders. The invention also provides three-dimensional structures of a Polo-like kinase and methods for designing or selecting small molecule inhibitors using these structures, and the therapeutic use of such compounds. The invention also includes a method for identifying novel phosphopeptide-binding domains.

Abstract: Methods for determining an optimal binding motif for a binding compound are provided in which the binding compound is contacted with an oriented degenerate cyclic peptide library (ODCPL) under conditions which allow for interaction between the binding compound and the ODCPL such that a complex is formed between the binding compound and a subpopulation of library members capable of interacting with the binding compound. The subpopulation of library members capable of interacting with the binding compound is then separated from library members that are incapable of interacting with the binding compound. The subpopulation of library members capable of interacting with the binding compound is linearized to form a subpopulation of linearized library members.