Development of photo-induced cyclization reaction toward modulation of molecular function under physiological conditions

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K14749
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 37030:Chemical biology-related
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: Okamura Hidenori 東北大学, 多元物質科学研究所, 助教 (60832293)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 光反応 / 光薬理学 / ケミカルバイオロジー / 光化学 / 含窒素芳香環

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we developed an intramolecular cyclization reaction by utilizing the unique photo-reactivity of the o-nitrobenzyl moiety. This photo-reaction enables the construction of nitrogen-containing aromatic rings, which are often found in drug molecules, by photo-irradiation in an aqueous solvent. Notably, the photo-reaction proceeds inside living cells; thus, we envision that the reaction would be powerful tool for chemical biology research and drug discovery research.

Free Research Field

ケミカルバイオロジー

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は、汎用的な光感受性基であるo-ニトロベンジル基の新たな光反応性を明らかにした点において、学術的意義は大きい。さらに、本研究で開発した新規光環化反応は、従来法では困難であった薬物分子の光制御を可能とし得ることから、ケミカルバイオロジー研究や創薬研究の加速につながると期待される。