1. Using photocaging for fast time-resolved structural biology studies.
- Author
-
Monteiro DCF, Amoah E, Rogers C, and Pearson AR
- Subjects
- Animals, Humans, Protein Conformation, Light, Photochemical Processes, Proteins chemistry, X-Ray Diffraction methods
- Abstract
Careful selection of photocaging approaches is critical to achieve fast and well synchronized reaction initiation and perform successful time-resolved structural biology experiments. This review summarizes the best characterized and most relevant photocaging groups previously described in the literature. It also provides a walkthrough of the essential factors to consider in designing a suitable photocaged molecule to address specific biological questions, focusing on photocaging groups with well characterized spectroscopic properties. The relationships between decay rates (k in s
-1 ), quantum yields (ϕ) and molar extinction coefficients (ϵmax in M-1 cm-1 ) are highlighted for different groups. The effects of the nature of the photocaged group on these properties is also discussed. Four main photocaging scaffolds are presented in detail, o-nitrobenzyls, p-hydroxyphenyls, coumarinyls and nitrodibenzofuranyls, along with three examples of the use of this technology. Furthermore, a subset of specialty photocages are highlighted: photoacids, molecular photoswitches and metal-containing photocages. These extend the range of photocaging approaches by, for example, controlling pH or generating conformationally locked molecules., (open access.)- Published
- 2021
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