Utilizing Photosensitizers for Zinc Photocages

Loree, Sophie

Student Work

Utilizing Photosensitizers for Zinc Photocages

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Zinc aids in upholding numerous functions within the human body, including maintaining cell homoeostasis and in aiding in upholding the structure of proteins and enzymes. Most recently, Zinc, specifically Zn2+, has been discovered to play a role within signal transduction pathways and within signaling between neurons in the nervous system. Little is known about these processes, but evidence suggests that when these processes are non-functional, they are linked with neurological conditions, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, depression, and anxiety. Photocages, compounds that release a bioactive molecule when excited by a certain wavelength of light, usually ultraviolet, or hν, light provide an ideal method for biologists to study these conditions by providing spatial and temporal control of zinc release within cells. However, the utilization of photocages in living cells faces many obstacles, including the need to use a wavelength higher than hν light to prevent DNA damage. This obstacle can be remedied via the use of photosensitizers, compounds that conduct energy transfer and effectively lower the energy of wavelength necessary for the photocage to photo-decarboxylate and release the contained bioactive molecule. Thioxanthone, a prominent photosensitizer, and its derivatives, particularly 2-methoxythioxanthone and 4-methoxythioxanthone, were combined with a developed zinc photocage, DPAdeCageOMe, and a precursor of DPAdeCageOMe, 3-nitrophenylacetic acid, and analyzed for the presence of a bathochromic shift in UV-Vis spectroscopic experiments.

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.

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