Photoactivatable probes

This nomenclature persisted, despite it being scientifically a misnomer, since it suggests the idea of the molecule being in a physical cage (like in a Fullerene).

Major discoveries were made in the following years with caged neurotransmitters, such as glutamate, which is used to map functional neuronal circuits in mammalian brain slices.

[4] Proteins which sense and react to light were originally isolated from photoreceptors in algae, corals and other marine organisms.

This principle has been successfully employed to control the activity of neurons in living cells and even tissue and gave rise to a whole new research field, optogenetics.

Nucleic acids play important roles as cellular information storage and gene regulation machinery.

Caged nucleic acids enable researchers to very precisely turn on genes of interest during the development of whole organisms.

The advantages of activating effectors with light (precise control, fast response, high specificity, no cross-reactions) are particularly interesting in neurotransmitters.

Caged dopamine, serotonin, glycine and GABA have been synthesized and their effect on neuronal activity has been extensively studied.

Since calcium is a potent cellular second messenger, caged variants have been synthesized by employing the ion-trapping properties of EDTA.

Photolabile groups such as diaziridines or benzophenones, which, upon UV irradiation leave behind a highly reactive carbenium ions, can be used to crosslink the lipid of interest to its interacting proteins.