title: Azo-propofols: photochromic potentiators of GABA(A) receptors.
abstract: Shine and rise! GABA(A) receptors are ligand-gated chloride ion channels that respond to γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter of the mammalian central nervous system. Azobenzene derivatives of propofol, such as compound 1 (see scheme), increase GABA-induced currents in the dark form and lose this property upon light exposure and thus function as photochromic potentiators. Compound 1 can be employed as a light-dependent general anesthetic in translucent tadpoles.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, München and Center of Integrated Protein Science, 81377 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stein
authors.forename: Simon J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Middendorp
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Carta
authors.forename: Ervin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pejo
authors.forename: Douglas E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Raines
authors.forename: Stuart A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Forman
authors.forename: Erwin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sigel
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Trauner
mesh_terms: D001391:Azo Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D015394:Molecular Structure; D055668:Photochemical Processes; D015742:Propofol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D001391:Azo Compounds; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D015742:Propofol