Genetically encoded green-light-responsive photocaged lysine for sequential control of protein function.

ABSTRACT: Site-specific incorporation of photo-responsive unnatural amino acids (UAAs) into proteins via genetic code expansion offers a powerful approach to control and study protein function in biological systems. However, existing UAAs are all sensitive to UV or near-UV light, and no visible-light-responsive UAAs have been reported, limiting our ability to regulate multiple proteins simultaneously. Here, we present the genetic encoding of a green-light-activatable lysine derivative, SCouK, for sequential photocontrol of protein activities in live cells. SCouK, containing a photolabile thiocoumarin moiety at the N _ε-amino group of lysine, can be genetically encoded into proteins in bacterial and mammalian cells. We show that site-specifically incorporated SCouK can be phot

SUBMITTER: Li M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12662067 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature