The nitrodibenzofuran chromophore: A new caging group for ultra-efficient photolysis in living cells

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2006

Abstract

Photochemical uncaging of bio-active molecules was introduced in 1977, but since then, there has been no substantial improvement in the properties of generic caging chromophores. We have developed a new chromophore, nitrodibenzofuran (NDBF) for ultra-efficient uncaging of second messengers inside cells. Photolysis of a NDBF derivative of EGTA (caged calcium) is about 16 -160 times more efficient than photolysis of the most widely used caged compounds (the quantum yield of photolysis is 0.7 and the extinction coefficient is 18,400 M-1 cm-1). Ultraviolet (UV)-laser photolysis of NDBF-EGTA:Ca2+ rapidly released Ca2+ (rate of 20,000 s-1) and initiated contraction of skinned guinea pig cardiac muscle. NDBF-EGTA has a two-photon cross-section of ~0.6 GM and two-photon photolysis induced localized Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic recticulum of intact cardiac myocytes. Thus, the NDBF chromophore has great promise as a generic and photochemically efficient protecting group for both one- and two-photon uncaging in living cells. © 2006 Nature Publishing Group.

Publication Title

Nature Methods

Volume

3

Issue

1

First Page

35

Last Page

40

Comments

This article was published in Nature Methods, Volume 3, Issue 1, Pages 35-40.

The published version is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nmeth821.

Copyright © 2006 NPG.

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