The Origin of High Stereoselectivity in Di-tert-butylsilylene-Directed α-Galactosylation.

The origin of the high α(1,2-cis)-stereoselectivity in the reaction of galactosyl and galactosaminyl donors with a di-tert-butylsilylene (DTBS) group with several nucleophiles has been elucidated by means of experimental and computational approaches. DTBS overcomes any other cyclic protecting groups examined to date and the β(1,2-trans)-directing effect due to the neighboring participation by CO groups at C2. Requirements for the α(1,2-cis)-stereoselectivity are as follows: (1) generation of an oxocarbenium ion; (2) a galacto-type glycosyl donor with a cyclic protecting group bridging O4 and O6 to form a six-membered ring; (3) through-space electron donation from O4 and O6 into the empty p-orbital of the anomeric carbon to stabilize the oxocarbenium intermediate; (4) steric hindrance due to bulky alkyl substituents on the cyclic protecting group to prevent nucleophilic attack from the β-face; and (5) a 4,6-O-silylene structure.

Involvement of the interaction of afadin with ZO-1 in the formation of tight junctions in Madin-Darby canine kidney cells.

Tight junctions (TJs) and adherens junctions (AJs) are major junctional apparatuses in epithelial cells. Claudins and junctional adhesion molecules (JAMs) are major cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) at TJs, whereas cadherins and nectins are major CAMs at AJs. Claudins and JAMs are associated with ZO proteins, whereas cadherins are associated with beta- and alpha-catenins, and nectins are associated with afadin.