Reversible Photocontrol of Biological Systems by the Incorporation of Molecular Photoswitches

Complete ON/OFF photoswitching of the motility of a nanobiomolecular machine

To apply motor proteins as natural nanomolecular machines to transporting systems in nanotechnology, complete temporal control over ON/OFF switching of the motility is necessary. We have studied the photoresponsive inhibition properties of azobenzene-tethered peptides for regulation of kinesin-microtubule motility. Although a compound containing a peptide having an amino acid sequence derived from the kinesin's C-terminus (a known inhibitor of kinesin's motor domain) and also featuring a terminal azobenzene unit exhibited an inhibition effect, the phototunability of this behavior upon irradiation with UV or visible light was only moderate. Unexpectedly, newly synthesized peptides featuring the reverse sequence of amino acids of the C-terminus of kinesin exhibited excellent photoresponsive inhibition. In particular, azobenzene-CONH-IPKAIQASHGR completely stopped and started the motility of kinesin-microtubules in its trans- and cis-rich states, respectively, obtained after irradiation with visible and UV light, respectively. A gliding motility system containing this photoresponsive inhibitor allowed in situ control of the motion of microtubules on a kinesin-coated glass substrate. It is expected that the present results on the photoresponsive nanomotor system open up new opportunities to design nanotransportation systems.

Genetically encoding photoswitchable click amino acids in Escherichia coli and mammalian cells

The ability to reversibly control protein structure and function with light would offer high spatiotemporal resolution for investigating biological processes. To confer photoresponsiveness on general proteins, we genetically incorporated a set of photoswitchable click amino acids (PSCaas), which contain both a reversible photoswitch and an additional click functional group for further modifications. Orthogonal tRNA-synthetases were evolved to genetically encode PSCaas bearing azobenzene with an alkene, keto, or benzyl chloride group in E. coli and in mammalian cells. After incorporation into calmodulin, the benzyl chloride PSCaa spontaneously generated a covalent protein bridge by reacting with a nearby cysteine residue through proximity-enabled bioreactivity. The resultant azobenzene bridge isomerized in response to light, thereby changing the conformation of calmodulin. These genetically encodable PSCaas will prove valuable for engineering photoswitchable bridges into proteins for reversible optogenetic regulation.

Tin-functionalized azobenzenes as nucleophiles in Stille cross-coupling reactions

The metalation of azobenzene by halogen-metal exchange typically leads to a reduction of the azo group to give hydrazine derivatives as major byproducts, instead of the desired metalated azobenzene species. In cross-coupling reactions, azobenzenes therefore usually serve as electrophiles, which greatly limits the scope of the reaction. To solve this problem, we have developed a mild and fast method to stannylate azobenzenes in high yields. This research shows that these stannylated azobenzenes can be used as nucleophilic components in Stille cross-coupling reactions with aryl bromides. The cross-coupling products were obtained in high yields ranging from 70 to 93%. With this reversal of the nucleophilic and electrophilic components, cross-coupling products are now accessible in which the aromatic rings coupled to the azobenzene bear functional groups that are sensitive to metalation.

Photoswitching of cell surface receptors using tethered ligands

Optical probing and manipulation of cellular signaling has revolutionized biological studies ranging from isolated cells to intact tissues in the live animal. A promising avenue of optical manipulation is Chemical Optogenetics (or Optogenetic Pharmacology), an approach for engineering specific proteins to be rapidly and reversibly switched on and off with light. The approach employs synthetic photoswitched ligands, which can be reversibly photo-isomerized to toggle back and forth between two conformations in response to two wavelengths of light. We focus here on the photoswitched tethered ligand (PTL) approach in which the PTL is covalently attached in a site-directed manner to a signaling protein. For this a ligand anchoring site is introduced at a location which allows the ligand to dock only in one of the light-controlled conformations, thus enabling liganding to be rapidly switched. The ligand can be an agonist, antagonist or an active site (or pore) blocker. In principle, orthogonal chemistries of attachment would make PTL anchoring completely unique. However, extremely high specificity of remote control is also obtained by cysteine attachment because of the ligand specificity and precise geometric requirements for liganding. We describe here the design of light-gated ionotropic and metabotropic glutamate receptors, the selection of a site for cysteine placement, the method for PTL attachment, and a detailed protocol of photoswitching experiments in cultured cells. These descriptions can guide applications of Chemical Optogenetics to other receptors and serve as a starting point for use in more complex preparations.

Spiropyran-decorated light-responsive amphiphilic poly(α-hydroxy acids) micelles constructed via a CuAAC reaction

Light-responsive amphiphilic poly(α-hydroxy acids) with pendent spiropyran chromophore was synthesized and the resultant micelles assembled in aqueous solution presented excellent light-response.

Chromo-pharmacophores: photochromic diarylmaleimide inhibitors for sirtuins

Controlling the activity of sirtuins is of high biomedical relevance as the enzymes are involved in cancer, neurodegeneration and other diseases.

Impact of mono- and disubstitution on the colorimetric dynamic covalent switching chalcone/flavanone scaffold

The impact of substitution on a novel colorimetric dynamic covalent switching scaffold was investigated using UV/Vis and NMR spectroscopy.

Photo-controlled deactivation of immobilised lipase

Immobilization of lipase on a quartz surface using a photoswitchable linker permits to control the deactivation of the enzyme by irradiation with light.

Azopyridine-functionalized benzoxazine with Zn(ClO4)2form high-performance polybenzoxazine stabilized through metal–ligand coordination

Azopyridine-functionalized benzoxazine (PBZ) was prepared and then blended with zinc ion through metal–ligand coordination to form a high performance polybenzoxazine after thermal curing.

Optical control of an ion channel gate

The powerful optogenetic pharmacology method allows the optical control of neuronal activity by photoswitchable ligands tethered to channels and receptors. However, this approach is technically demanding, as it requires the design of pharmacologically active ligands. The development of versatile technologies therefore represents a challenging issue. Here, we present optogating, a method in which the gating machinery of an ATP-activated P2X channel was reprogrammed to respond to light. We found that channels covalently modified by azobenzene-containing reagents at the transmembrane segments could be reversibly turned on and off by light, without the need of ATP, thus revealing an agonist-independent, light-induced gating mechanism. We demonstrate photocontrol of neuronal activity by a light-gated, ATP-insensitive P2X receptor, providing an original tool devoid of endogenous sensitivity to delineate P2X signaling in normal and pathological states. These findings open new avenues to specifically activate other ion channels independently of their natural stimulus.

A red-shifted, fast-relaxing azobenzene photoswitch for visible light control of an ionotropic glutamate receptor

The use of azobenzene photoswitches has become a dependable method for rapid and exact modulation of biological processes and material science systems. The requirement of ultraviolet light for azobenzene isomerization is not ideal for biological systems due to poor tissue penetration and potentially damaging effects. While modified azobenzene cores with a red-shifted cis-to-trans isomerization have been previously described, they have not yet been incorporated into a powerful method to control protein function: the photoswitchable tethered ligand (PTL) approach. We report the synthesis and characterization of a red-shifted PTL, L-MAG0460, for the light-gated ionotropic glutamate receptor LiGluR. In cultured mammalian cells, the LiGluR+L-MAG0460 system is activated rapidly by illumination with 400-520 nm light to generate a large ionic current. The current rapidly turns off in the dark as the PTL relaxes thermally back to the trans configuration. The visible light excitation and single-wavelength behavior considerably simplify use and should improve utilization in tissue.

Exploiting protein symmetry to design light-controllable enzyme inhibitors

The activity of the metabolic branch-point enzyme PriA from Mycobacterium tuberculosis (mtPriA) can be controlled reversibly by light. Two-pronged inhibitors based on the dithienylethene scaffold were designed utilizing mtPriA's natural rotational symmetry. Switching from the flexible, ring-open to the rigid, ring-closed isomer reduces inhibition activity by one order of magnitude.

Four levels of wavelength-selective uncaging for oligonucleotides

In this study the new nucleobase-caged nucleotides dT(NpHP) and dT(DEACM) are introduced. Together with two other caging groups (NDBF and NPP) this results in four layers of wavelength-selective uncaging for oligonucleotides, sequentially going from 505 to 440 nm, 365 nm, and finally to 313 nm for the photolysis reaction.

Optical control of antibacterial activity

Bacterial resistance is a major problem in the modern world, stemming in part from the build-up of antibiotics in the environment. Novel molecular approaches that enable an externally triggered increase in antibiotic activity with high spatiotemporal resolution and auto-inactivation are highly desirable. Here we report a responsive, broad-spectrum, antibacterial agent that can be temporally activated with light, whereupon it auto-inactivates on the scale of hours. The use of such a 'smart' antibiotic might prevent the build-up of active antimicrobial material in the environment. Reversible optical control over active drug concentration enables us to obtain pharmacodynamic information. Precisely localized control of activity is achieved, allowing the growth of bacteria to be confined to defined patterns, which has potential for the development of treatments that avoid interference with the endogenous microbial population in other parts of the organism.