Dirk Trauner

TL;DR: The B-alkyl Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction appears to be one such reaction that has been an attractive solution to challenging synthetic problems.

TL;DR: These synthetic photoisomerizable azobenzene-regulated K+ (SPARK) channels allow rapid, precise and reversible control over neuronal firing, with potential applications for dissecting neural circuits and controlling activity downstream from sites of neural damage or degeneration.

TL;DR: A general approach for manipulating allosteric control using synthetic optical switches is described, exemplified by a ligand-gated ion channel of central importance in neuroscience, the ionotropic glutamate receptor (iGluR), which has potential uses not only in biology but also in bioelectronics and nanotechnology.

TL;DR: The involvement in this field is traced, starting with the first light-sensitive potassium channel (SPARK) and concluding with the most recent work on photoswitchable fatty acids, to provide a roadmap to success in photopharmacology and make a case as to why synthetic photoswitches should have a bright future in biology and medicine.

TL;DR: An overview of photopharmacology using synthetic switches that have been applied in vivo, i.e., in living cells and organisms is provided.