Photoactivatable (alternatively, photoremovable, photoreleasable, or photocleavable) protecting groups (PPGs), also known as caged or photocaged compounds, are used to enable non-invasive spatiotemporal photochemical control over the release of species of interest. Recent years have seen the development of PPGs activatable by biologically and chemically benign visible and near-infrared (NIR) light. These long-wavelength-absorbing moieties expand the applicability of this powerful method and its accessibility to non-specialist users. This review comprehensively covers organic and transition metal-containing photoactivatable compounds (complexes) that absorb in the visible- and NIR-range to release various leaving groups and gasotransmitters (carbon monoxide, nitric oxide, and hydrogen sulfide). The text also covers visible- and NIR-light-induced photosensitized release using molecular sensitizers, quantum dots, and upconversion and second-harmonic nanoparticles, as well as release via photodynamic (photooxygenation by singlet oxygen) and photothermal effects. Release from photoactivatable polymers, micelles, vesicles, and photoswitches, along with the related emerging field of photopharmacology, is discussed at the end of the review.

Visible-to-NIR-Light Activated Release: From Small Molecules to Nanomaterials.

[Rapid photolytic release of adenosine 5'-triphosphate from a protected analogue: utilization by the Na:K pump of human red blood cell ghosts].

Cell surface receptors transmit extracellular information into cells. Spatiotemporal regulation of receptor signaling is crucial for cellular functions, and dysregulation of signaling causes various diseases. Thus, it is highly desired to control receptor functions with high spatial and/or temporal resolution. Conventionally, genetic engineering or chemical ligands have been used to control receptor functions in cells. As the alternative, chemogenetics has been proposed, in which target proteins are genetically engineered to interact with a designed chemical partner with high selectivity. The engineered receptor dissects the function of one receptor member among a highly homologous receptor family in a cell-specific manner. Notably, some chemogenetic strategies have been used to reveal the receptor signaling of target cells in living animals. In this review, we summarize the developing chemogenetic methods of transmembrane receptors for cell-specific regulation of receptor signaling. We also discuss the prospects of chemogenetics for clinical applications.

https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2022/cb/d1cb00195g

Chemogenetics of cell surface receptors: beyond genetic and pharmacological approaches

Due to cell damage caused by UV light, photoremovable protecting groups (PPGs) that are removed using visible or near-infrared light are attracting attention. A 2-(4-nitrophenyl)-1H-indolyl-3-methyl chromophore (NPIM) was synthesized as a novel PPG. Various compounds were caged using this PPG and uncaged using visible or near-infrared light. Low cytotoxicity of NPIM indicates that it may be applied in physiological studies. Due to cell damage caused by UV light, photoremovable protecting groups (PPGs) that are removed using visible or near-infrared light are attracting attention. A 2-(4-nitrophenyl)-1H-indolyl-3-methyl chromophore (NPIM) was synthesized as a novel PPG. Various compounds were caged using this PPG and uncaged using visible or near-infrared light. Low cytotoxicity of NPIM indicates that it may be applied in physiological studies. 

2-(4-Nitrophenyl)-1<i>H</i>-indolyl-3-methyl Chromophore: A Versatile Photocage that Responds to Visible-light One-photon and Near-infrared-light Two-photon Excitations

Elucidation of the working principle of a gene-directed caged HDAC inhibitor with cell-type selectivity.

Manipulating subcellular protein localization using light is a powerful approach for controlling signaling processes with high spatiotemporal precision. The most widely used strategy for this is based on light-induced protein heterodimerization. The use of small synthetic molecules that can control the localization of target proteins in response to light without the need for a second protein has several advantages. However, such methods have not been well established. Herein, we present a chemo-optogenetic approach for controlling protein localization using a photoactivatable self-localizing ligand (paSL). We developed a paSL that can recruit tag-fused proteins of interest from the cytoplasm to the plasma membrane within seconds upon light illumination. This paSL-induced protein translocation (paSLIPT) is reversible and enables the spatiotemporal control of signaling processes in living cells, even in a local region. paSLIPT can also be used to implement simultaneous optical stimulation and multiplexed imaging of molecular processes in a single cell, offering an attractive and novel chemo-optogenetic platform for interrogating and engineering dynamic cellular functions.

Chemo-optogenetic Protein Translocation System Using a Photoactivatable Self-Localizing Ligand.

https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2021/CC/D1CC01405F

Design and synthesis of gene-directed caged cyclic nucleotides exhibiting cell type selectivity

Caged compounds enable the photo-mediated manipulation of the cell physiology with high spatiotemporal resolution. However, the limited structural diversity of currently available caging groups and the difficulties in synthetic modification without sacrificing their photolysis efficiencies are obstacles to expanding the repertoire of caged compounds for live cell applications. As the chemical modification of coumarin-type photo-caging groups is a promising approach for the preparation of caged compounds with diverse physical and chemical properties, we report a method for the synthesis of clickable caged compounds that can be modified easily with various functional units via the copper(I)-catalyzed Huisgen cyclization. The modular platform molecule contains a (6-bromo-7-hydroxycoumarin-4-yl)methyl (Bhc) group as a photo-caging group, which exhibits a high photolysis efficiency compared to those of the conventional 2-nitrobenzyls. General procedures for the preparation of clickable caged compounds containing amines, alcohols, and carboxylates are presented. Additional properties such as the water solubility and cell targeting ability can be readily incorporated into clickable caged compounds. Furthermore, the physical and photochemical properties, including the photolysis quantum yield, were measured and were found to be superior to those of the corresponding Bhc caged compounds. The described protocol could therefore be considered a potential solution for the lack of structural diversity in the available caged compounds.

/pdf/design-synthesis-and-photochemical-properties-of-clickable-1d9fgtj2v3.pdf

Rei Watahiki

Papers

Chemo-optogenetic Protein Translocation System Using a Photoactivatable Self-Localizing Ligand.

Design and synthesis of gene-directed caged cyclic nucleotides exhibiting cell type selectivity

Design, Synthesis, and Photochemical Properties of Clickable Caged Compounds