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Recent Developments in the Optical Control of Adrenergic Signaling
Shuang Shi1, Yangzhi Cao1, Maikel Wijtmans1
1Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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Adrenoceptors (ARs) play a vital role in various physiological processes and are key therapeutic targets. The advent of optical control techniques, including optogenetics and photopharmacology, offers the potential to modulate AR signaling with precise temporal and spatial resolution. In this review, we summarize the latest advancements in the optical control of AR signaling, encompassing optogenetics, photocaged compounds, and photoswitchable compounds. We also discuss the limitations of current tools and provide an outlook on the next generation of optogenetic and photopharmacological tools. These emerging optical technologies not only enhance our understanding of AR signaling but also pave the way for potential therapeutic developments.
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