N-Ethylmaleimide (NEM) is a reagent for alkylation of free sulfhydryl groups, a cysteine protease inhibitor used in experimental biochemistry. N-Ethylmaleimide is also a deubiquitinating enzyme inhibitor that specifically inhibits phosphate transport in mitochondria.

METHODS: Growth-arrested VSMC cells were treated with N-Ethylmaleimide (20 µM) and PDGF-BB (20 ng/mL) for 5 min - 2 h, and the expression levels of target proteins were detected by Western Blot.
RESULTS: N-Ethylmaleimide inhibited PDGF BB-stimulated Akt phosphorylation. [1]
METHODS: Jurkat T cells were treated with N-Ethylmaleimide (3-100 µM) for 1-20 min, and target protein expression levels were detected by immunoblots.
RESULTS: Treatment of intact cells with 50-100 µM N-Ethylmaleimide for 5-10 min resulted in a significant increase in tyrosine residue phosphorylation. [2]

METHODS: To examine the potential enhancement of sleep properties induced by alprazolam (Alp), N-Ethylmaleimide (1 mg/kg, 1% CMC-Na) and Alp (1.84 mg/kg, 1% CMC-Na) were administered by gavage to C57BL/6J mice.
RESULTS: Combined administration of Alp and NEM significantly reduced sleep latency and prolonged sleep duration compared with Alp alone. This effect was characterized by a significant increase in REM duration. [3]