title: Optically Triggered Immune Response through Photocaged Oligonucleotides.
abstract: Bacterial and viral CpG oligonculeotides are unmethylated cytosine-phosphate-guanosine dinucleotide sequences and trigger an innate immune response through activation of the toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9). We have developed synthetic photocaged CpGs via site-specific incorporation of nitropiperonyloxymethyl (NPOM)-caged thymidine residues. These oligonucleotides enable the optical control of TLR9 function and thereby provide light-activation of an immune response. We provide a proof-of-concept model by applying a reporter assay in live cells and by quantification of endogenous production of interleukin 6.
authors.affiliation: North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27167.
authors.forename: Jeane M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Govan
authors.affiliation: North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27167.
authors.forename: Douglas D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Young
authors.affiliation: Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157.
authors.forename: Mark O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Lively
authors.affiliation: North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27167 ; University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Deiters
keywords: immune response; light-activation; oligonucleotide synthesis; photocaged nucleotides; toll-like receptors