Photoresponsive molecular tweezers modulate Taspase 1 activity.

ABSTRACT: Light serves as an exceptional stimulus for the precise spatiotemporal regulation of protein activity and protein-protein interactions. Here, we introduce a light-responsive supramolecular ligand system designed to modulate Taspase 1, a protease critical for embryogenesis and implicated in tumor progression. Our approach utilizes photoswitchable divalent molecular tweezers engineered to target lysine-rich regions within the Taspase 1 loop. By incorporating arylazopyrazole (AAP) photoswitches, we achieve dynamic and reversible control of ligand binding. These photoswitches exhibit high photostationary states, excellent reversibility, and prolonged thermal stability of the Z isomer, ensuring reliable switching without photodegradation. The tweezer distance varies between E and

SUBMITTER: Bietti ALF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12419465 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature