Optical Manipulation of F-Actin with Photoswitchable Small Molecules

Borowiak, Malgorzata; Kuellmer, Florian; Gegenfurtner, Florian; Peil, Sebastian; Nasufovic, Veselin; Zahler, Stefan; Thorn-Seshold, Oliver; Trauner, Dirk und Arndt, Hans-Dieter (2020): Optical Manipulation of F-Actin with Photoswitchable Small Molecules. In: Journal of the American Chemical Society, Vol. 142, No. 20: pp. 9240-9249

Abstract

Cell-permeable photoswitchable small molecules, termed optojasps, are introduced to optically control the dynamics of the actin cytoskeleton and cellular functions that depend on it. These light-dependent effectors were designed from the F-actin-stabilizing marine depsipeptide jasplakinolide by functionalizing them with azobenzene photoswitches. As demonstrated, optojasps can be employed to control cell viability, cell motility, and cytoskeletal signaling with the high spatial and temporal resolution that light affords. Optojasps can be expected to find applications in diverse areas of cell biological research. They may also provide a template for photopharmacology targeting the ubiquitous actin cytoskeleton with precision control in the micrometer range.

• Item Type: Journal article
• Faculties: Chemistry and Pharmacy > Department of Pharmacy
• Subjects: 500 Science > 540 Chemistry
• ISSN: 0002-7863
• Language: English