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Published on: September 13, 2013
"Photo-Adrenalines": Photoswitchable β2 -Adrenergic Receptor Agonists as Molecular Probes for the Study of
Alexandra Sink1, Hubert Gerwe1, Harald Hübner2
1Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry Institute for Pharmacy and Food Chemistry, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074, Würzburg, Germany.
Abstract:
β2 -adrenergic receptor (β2 -AR) agonists are used for the treatment of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, but also play a role in other complex disorders including cancer, diabetes and heart diseases. As the cellular and molecular mechanisms in various cells and tissues of the β2 -AR remain vastly elusive, we developed tools for this investigation with high temporal and spatial resolution. Several photoswitchable β2 -AR agonists with nanomolar activity were synthesized. The most potent agonist for β2 -AR with reasonable switching is a one-digit nanomolar active, trans-on arylazopyrazole-based adrenaline derivative and comprises valuable photopharmacological properties for further biological studies with high structural accordance to the native ligand adrenaline.
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