Published papers

© 2019 American Chemical Society. FNC-RED exhibits innate immune receptor Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/myeloid differentiation factor-2 (MD2) stimulatory activity. We have developed a divergent synthetic route to FNC-RED derivatives containing various alkyl side chains. Key features of the synthetic study include stepwise palladium catalyzed cross-coupling reactions and the construction of an all syn-cyclopentanetetrol moiety.

© 2019 Elsevier Ltd CD1d is a non-polymorphic antigen-presenting glycoprotein that recognizes glycolipids as ligands. Ligands bind to the hydrophobic grooves of CD1d, and the resulting ligand-CD1d complexes activate natural killer T (NKT) cells by means of T cell receptor recognition, leading to the secretion of various cytokines. However, details of the ligand recognition mechanism of a large hydrophobic ligand binding pocket and the relationship between cytokine induction and ligand structure are unclear. We report the synthesis of α-GalCer derivatives containing a Bz amide group having various substituting groups in the ceramide moiety, and the analysis of the structure-activity relationships. The assays reveal that the Bz amide-containing CD1d ligands function as NKT cell modulators displaying Th2 cytokine biasing responses. Furthermore, molecular dynamics simulation studies suggest that the phenyl groups can interact with the aromatic amino acid residues in the lipid binding pocket of CD1d.

© The Royal Society of Chemistry. Mincle, expressed in activated phagocytes, recognizes the lipid ligand to activate the innate immune system. We have synthesized glycerol derivatives possessing simple alkyl chains or aromatic rings and elucidated their structure-activity relationships using a Mincle-mediated signaling assay. The activity depends on the length of the simple acyl chains of the glycerol derivatives.

© 2019 Elsevier Ltd Cyclopropane fatty acids (CFAs) and related compounds containing CFAs commonly occur in various natural sources, including plants or microorganisms. Some CFAs exhibit intriguing biological activities such as antifungal or immunosuppressive activities. Due to their biological importance and structural features, a number of synthetic studies have been conducted to date. These total syntheses have helped to elucidate their structural determinants or biological activities. Herein the total syntheses of naturally occurring CFAs and related compounds are summarized.