Mechanisms of photoswitch conjugation and light activation of an ionotropic glutamate receptor

• Published in: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS Vol. 104; no. 26; pp. 10865 - 10870
• Main Authors: Gorostiza, Pau, Volgraf, Matthew, Numano, Rika, Szobota, Stephanie, Trauner, Dirk, Isacoff, Ehud Y
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States National Academy of Sciences 26.06.2007; National Acad Sciences
• Subjects: Agonists; Amino acids; Binding Sites; Biochemistry; Biological Sciences; Biomedical Research - methods; Biophysics; Cell-Free System; Cells; Electric current; Glutamate receptors; HEK293 cells; Inhibitory concentration 50; Ion Channels - metabolism; Ligands; Light; Models, Biological; Neuroscience; Proteins; Proteins - physiology; Receptors; Receptors, Kainic Acid - metabolism; Receptors, Kainic Acid - radiation effects; Wavelengths

The analysis of cell signaling requires the rapid and selective manipulation of protein function. We have synthesized photoswitches that covalently modify target proteins and reversibly present and withdraw a ligand from its binding site due to photoisomerization of an azobenzene linker. We describe...