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[Photodynamic modulation of cellular functions.] [Article in Chinese]

LI Yuan, JIANG Hong-Ning, CUI Zong-Jie^*

Institute of Cell Biology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875

Abstract

Photodynamic action, due to the rather limited lifetime (1 μs) and effective reactive distance of singlet oxygen (< 10 nm), could subcellular-specifically regulate different cellular functions. Photodynamic action could activate permanently cholecystokinin (CCK) 1 receptors, and sensitize or desensitize other G protein-coupled receptors. The emergence in recent years of genetically- encoded protein photosensitisers has enabled more precisely-targeted photodynamic modulation of subcellular organelles and functional proteins. Protein photosensitisers (such as KillerRed, miniSOG or SOPP) expressed on the plasma membrane, mitochondria, lysosomes or endoplasmic reticulum can modulate photodynamically subcellular functions and fine-tune protein activity by targeted photooxidation. With the newly emerged active illumination technique, simultaneous photodynamic action localized at multiple sites is now possible, and the contribution of subcellular regions to the whole cell or individual cells to a cell cluster could be quantitated. Photodynamic action with protein photosensitiser will be a powerful tool for nano-manipulation in cell physiology research.

Key words: photosensitization; photosensitiser; visible light; photobiology; photochemistry

Received: 2016-03-25　　Accepted: 2016-06-14

Corresponding author: 崔宗杰　　E-mail: zjcui@bnu.edu.cn

Citing This Article：

LI Yuan, JIANG Hong-Ning, CUI Zong-Jie. [Photodynamic modulation of cellular functions.] [Article in Chinese]. Acta Physiol Sin 2016; 68 (4): 534-546 (in Chinese with English abstract).