Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 8, 2026

Spatial and Temporal Control of T Cell Activation Using a Photoactivatable Agonist
Published on: April 25, 2018
Reversible, Spatial and Temporal Control over Protein Activity Using Light
Mark W H Hoorens1, Wiktor Szymanski1
1University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Radiology, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands; Centre for Systems Chemistry, Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands.
Abstract:
In biomedical sciences, the function of a protein of interest is investigated by altering its net activity and assessing the consequences for the cell or organism. To change the activity of a protein, a wide variety of chemical and genetic tools have been developed. The drawback of most of these tools is that they do not allow for reversible, spatial and temporal control. Here, we describe selected developments in photopharmacology that aim at establishing such control over protein activity through bioactive molecules with photo-controlled potency. We also discuss why such control is desired and what challenges still need to be overcome for photopharmacology to reach its maturity as a chemical biology research tool.
More Related Videos
08:00Spatiotemporal Control of Protein Activity through Optogenetic Allosteric Regulation
Published on: October 4, 2024
09:32Light-mediated Reversible Modulation of the Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase Pathway during Cell Differentiation and Xenopus Embryonic Development
Published on: June 15, 2017
Related Concept Videos
Activation and Inactivation of G Proteins
Photoreceptors and Plant Responses to Light
Reversible and Irreversible Processes
Diode: Reverse bias
Light Acquisition
Light as Energy
Photons
A photon is a discrete electromagnetic particle or bundle of energy. Photons are characterized by their frequency, wavelength, and amplitude, similar to the properties of a wave. Waves with higher frequencies transmit more energy and have shorter wavelengths than longer wavelengths that transmit...