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Updated: Nov 9, 2025

Optical Control of a Neuronal Protein Using a Genetically Encoded Unnatural Amino Acid in Neurons
Published on: March 28, 2016
Photochromic meta-diamides for optical modulation of ligand activity and neuron function†
Cuncun Zhou1, Yunfan Ji2, Liping Ren3
1Shanghai Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China.
Abstract:
Photopharmacology offers facile solutions for spatiotemporal control over ligand activity and receptor function. The meta-diamide insecticide acts on insect GABA receptors (GABARs) as an antagonist that causes firing of a neuron. We present here photochromic GABAR ligands azobenzene-meta-diamides (ABMDAs) by incorporating photoswitchable azobenzene with meta-diamides. ABMDAs showed good isomerization efficiency and fatigue resistance. Among them, ABMDA7 shows a 1.5-fold insecticidal activity difference towards mosquito larvae (Aedes albopictus) before and after UV illumination. We translated this light-dependent activity difference to the optical modulation of the membrane potential of American cockroach (Periptaneta americana) DUM neurons. This light-responsive meta-diamide-based GABAR ligand allows for optical regulation of insecticidal activity and DUM neurons.
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