Biophotonics

A caged compound remains biologically inactive until activated by light, typically by the photolysis of a protective group. In a collaboration between the Schools of Chemistry and Physics, caged compounds and laser sources to activate them are under development at St Andrews. One such caged compound is capsaicin, the molecule that gives chilli peppers their “heat.” The capsaicin receptor, called Transient Receptor Potential Channel–Vanilloid Subtype 1 (TRPV1), is an important potential therapeutic target in the treatment of pain. Caged capsaicin therefore allows high temporal and spatial control of the activation of the TRPV1 receptor. In contrast to activation by the traditional flashlamp method, laser irradiation allows the possibility of the separate activation of two caged compounds using different laser wavelengths.

Key References

Caged AG10: new tools for spatially predefined mitochondrial uncoupling N. Avlonitis, S. Chalmers, C. McDougall, M. N. Stanton-Humphreys, C. T. A. Brown, J. G. McCarron and S. J. Conway Molecular BioSystems, (2009).

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