AbstractEfficient tools for controlling molecular functions with exquisite spatiotemporal resolution are much in demand to investigate biological processes in living systems. Here we report an easily synthesized caged dexamethasone for photo‐activating cytoplasmic proteins fused to the glucocorticoid receptor. In the dark, it is stable in vitro as well as in vivo in both zebrafish (Danio rerio) and Xenopus sp, two significant models of vertebrates. In contrast, it liberates dexamethasone upon UV illumination, which has been harnessed to interfere with developmental steps in embryos of these animals. Interestingly, this new system is biologically orthogonal to the one for photo‐activating proteins fused to the estrogen ERT receptor, which brings great prospect for activating two distinct proteins down to the single cell level.
摘要 在研究生命系统中的生物过程时,非常需要能以精确的时空分辨率控制分子功能的高效工具。在此,我们报告了一种易于合成的笼式地塞米松,用于光激活与糖皮质激素受体融合的细胞质蛋白。在黑暗中,它在斑马鱼(Danio rerio)和爪蟾(Xenopus sp)这两种重要的脊椎动物模型的体外和体内都是稳定的。与此相反,它在紫外线照射下会释放地塞米松,从而干扰这些动物胚胎的发育步骤。有趣的是,这一新系统与融合了雌激素 ERT 受体的光激活蛋白在生物学上是正交的,这为激活两种不同的蛋白直至单细胞水平带来了巨大的前景。