Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 23, 2025
07:49
Conventional BODIPY Conjugates for Live-Cell Super-Resolution Microscopy and Single-Molecule Tracking
Published on: June 8, 2020
8.4K
Red-Shifted Water-Soluble BODIPY Photocages for Visualisation and Controllable Cellular Delivery of Signaling Lipids
Anna Poryvai1, Maksym Galkin1, Volodymyr Shvadchak1,2
1Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo náměstí 542/2, Prague 6, 160 00, Czech Republic.
Angewandte Chemie (International Ed. in English)
|May 16, 2022
Summary
Researchers created a new water-soluble cage that releases cargo using red light. This technology enables targeted delivery and controlled release of signaling molecules, demonstrated by inducing calcium release in cells.
Area of Science:
- Organic Chemistry
- Photochemistry
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Development of photocaged molecules for controlled release applications.
- Need for water-soluble caging groups activated by visible light.
- Importance of understanding photoreactivity and cargo influence on uncaging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and synthesize a novel water-soluble BODIPY-based caging group.
- To investigate the mechanism and influencing factors of red light-induced cargo release.
- To demonstrate the utility of the caging group for selective molecular delivery and photorelease in biological systems.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of a π-extended BODIPY scaffold for water-soluble caging.
- Mechanistic studies on photoreactivity and cargo-dependent uncaging kinetics.
- Application in selective delivery and visualization of signaling lipids in cell membranes.
- Induction of Ca2+ release in GPR40 receptor-expressing cells.
Main Results:
- Successful development of a water-soluble BODIPY cage releasing carboxylate cargo upon 633 nm red light irradiation.
- Elucidation of mechanistic insights into photoreactivity, highlighting cargo structure's impact on uncaging rate and efficiency.
- Demonstration of selective delivery and photorelease of a signaling lipid within cellular compartments.
- Successful induction of Ca2+ release in cells via GPR40 receptor activation.
Conclusions:
- The developed BODIPY cage offers a versatile platform for light-activated cargo release in aqueous environments.
- Understanding cargo-photoreactivity is crucial for optimizing uncaging strategies.
- This technology enables precise spatiotemporal control of signaling events in live cells, exemplified by GPR40-mediated calcium signaling.
