title: Illuminating the chemistry of life: design, synthesis, and applications of "caged" and related photoresponsive compounds.
abstract: Biological systems are characterized by a level of spatial and temporal organization that often lies beyond the grasp of present day methods. Light-modulated bioreagents, including analogs of low molecular weight compounds, peptides, proteins, and nucleic acids, represent a compelling strategy to probe, perturb, or sample biological phenomena with the requisite control to address many of these organizational complexities. Although this technology has created considerable excitement in the chemical community, its application to biological questions has been relatively limited. We describe the challenges associated with the design, synthesis, and use of light-responsive bioreagents; the scope and limitations associated with the instrumentation required for their application; and recent chemical and biological advances in this field.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-3290, USA.
authors.forename: Hsien-Ming
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Daniel R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Larson
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Lawrence
mesh_terms: D015195:Drug Design; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009696:Nucleic Acids / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D010455:Peptides / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D010777:Photochemistry; D011506:Proteins / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D009696:Nucleic Acids; D010455:Peptides; D011506:Proteins