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Updated: Nov 30, 2025

Live Imaging Assay for Assessing the Roles of Ca2+ and Sphingomyelinase in the Repair of Pore-forming Toxin Wounds
Published on: August 25, 2013
A photocaged inhibitor of acid sphingomyelinase
Kevin Prause1, Gita Naseri1, Fabian Schumacher2
1Institute for Chemistry, Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, 12437 Berlin, Germany. arenzchr@hu-berlin.de.
Abstract:
Acid sphingomyelinase (ASM) is a potential drug target and involved in rapid lipid signalling events. However, there are no tools available to adequately study such processes. Based on a non cell-permeable PtdIns(3,5)P2 inhibitor of ASM, we developed a compound with o-nitrobenzyl photocages and butyryl esters to transiently mask hydroxyl groups. This resulted in a potent light-inducible photocaged ASM inhibitor (PCAI). The first example of a time-resolved inhibition of ASM was shown in intact living cells.
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