Zinc is an important bioactive molecule within many aspects of biology. Zinc is found in proteins as a structural component as well as in the active site of many enzymes, most importantly zinc is found in the brain as a neuromodulator. Our group works to create molecules that bind to zinc and then release zinc into cells via irradiation with light, known as photocages. These photocages utilize a sulfur-based binding site to determine the binding affinity (Kd) for zinc and other metal ions. The first photodecarboxylation thio-based cage synthesized was MVSdeCage, which utilized methyl-thioglycolate as a receptor, and forms a 1 : 1 and a 2 : 1, ligand : metal, complex with 877 and 83 𝛍M Kd values respectively. A new thio-based photocage: EDTdeCage, which utilizes 1,2-ethanedithiol as a receptor. The EDTdeCage was designed to have two photodecarboxylation chromophores to go from a tetradentate ligand to a bidentate ligand after photodecarboxylation, thus increasing the ΔKd.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• White, Jason

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• 106446
• E-project-042723-151328

Keyword

• Zinc
• Bioinorganic

Advisor

• Burdette, Shawn C

Year

• 2023

Date created

• 2023-04-27

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Chemistry

Source

• E-project-042723-151328

Rights statement

• In Copyright

Last modified

• 2024-04-03