Kinetic Analysis of a Photosensitive Chelator and its Complex with Zn(II)¶

have distinct "dark/ground" and "lightactivated" states which confer different functions to adapt to a light stimulus.Optogenetics is a biological technique that exploits the information carrying property of light by using such photo sensors for bioengineering. Light can then be used to control genetically encoded lightsensitive proteins, which in turn can influence diverse functions of cells. The word "optogenetics" was first used in the context of light-gated ion channels in 2006. [1] The use of these channels has revolutionized neuroscience as well as other biological disciplines. The first genetically engineered light-sensitive proteins date back to 2002 when a yeast-two-hybrid system was coupled with photosensitive domains to create a light-regulated transcription system in yeast. [2] That same year, the discoveries of light-gated ion channels were published. [3,4] Since then, light has been used to perturb and control a variety of cellular functions using different approaches. These approaches, some of which will later be discussed, are either made possible through the use of light as an input, or are used as alternatives for small molecule inputs, such as chemical inducers (for gene expression) or hormones (to elicit cellular responses). In this regard, light fulfills a similar function to small molecule signals which have been used extensively in biological research and biotechnology. For example, small-molecule inducible gene expression systems are key components in synthetic biology [5] and biotechnological applications. [6] However, in contrast to small molecules, which usually bind to specific sensors, light transfers information through photons, which provides unique properties: precise spatiotemporal and orthogonal inputs.

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Processing Energy and Signals by Molecular and Supramolecular Systems

Balzani

Credi

Venturi

2007

Chemistry A European J

123

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Any kind of device or machine requires a substrate, energy, and information signals. If we wish to operate at the nanometer scale, we must use molecules as substrates. Energy- and signal-processing at a molecular level relies on cause/effect relationships between the input supplied and the kind of process obtained. We have classified energy- and signal-processing at the molecular level according to the nature of the input (electronic, photonic, or chemical) and the nature of the obtained effect (electronic, photonic, or chemical process that follows). By coupling the three kinds of inputs with the three types of resulting processes, nine types of molecular-based processes (electronic, photonic, chemionic, electrophotonic, electrochemionic, photoelectronic, photochemionic, chemiophotonic, and chemioelectronic) can be identified. In this concept article, looking at molecular transformations in an unconventional way, we have tried to give a flavor of some of the new features that project the old science of chemistry towards novel achievements.

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Kinetic Analysis of a Photosensitive Chelator and its Complex with Zn(II)¶

Cited by 4 publications

References 64 publications

Movements Related to Opening, Closing, and Translocation Function

Movements Related to Opening, Closing, and Translocation Function

Synthetic Biological Approaches for Optogenetics and Tools for Transcriptional Light‐Control in Bacteria

Processing Energy and Signals by Molecular and Supramolecular Systems

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