Toward the molecular flashlight: preparation, properties, and photophysics of a hypericin-luciferin tethered molecule.
The synthesis of a molecule containing hypericin and luciferin moieties joined by a tether is reported. The light-induced (in vitro) antiviral activity as well as the photophysical properties of this new compound are measured and compared with those of the parent compounds, hypericin and pseudohypericin. This tethered molecule exhibits excited-state behavior that is very similar to that of its parent compounds and antiviral activity that is identical, within experimental error, to that of its more closely related parent compound, pseudohypericin. The implications for a photodynamic therapy that is independent of external light sources are discussed.
Department of Chemistry, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011-3111, USA.
Jin
J
Wen
Pramit
P
Chowdhury
Nick J
NJ
Wills
Yvonne
Y
Wannemuehler
Jaehun
J
Park
Sarathy
S
Kesavan
S
S
Carpenter
G A
GA
Kraus
J W
JW
Petrich
D000873:Anthracenes; D049454:Firefly Luciferin / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects*; D010569:Perylene / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects*; D010777:Photochemistry; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects*
D000873:Anthracenes; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D010569:Perylene; D049454:Firefly Luciferin; C004965:hypericin; C056602:pseudohypericin