A group of researchers, led by Amadeu Llebaria, researcher at the Institute of Advanced Chemistry of CSIC in Catalonia (IQAC), Pau Gorostiza, scientific at the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), and Cyril Goudet, of the Institute of Functional Genomics CNRS in France, has develop new Targeted Covalent Photoswitches.
Recent studies have been focused in the development of drugs called Targeted Covalent Photoswitches (TCPs), molecules which structure can be changed with light. This molecules are design to be recognized by a specific receptor once it changes, triggering its activity in a specific area of the body.
The study, recently published in the journal Cell Chemical Biology, describes a new molecule that changes structurally to violet light to couple with the glutamate receptor, to decrease or increase its activity. The controlled use of light, will allow a localized and precise use of that molecule.
Glutamate receptors are involved in synaptic transmission in the central nervous system, in many processes such as pain perception, memory, or motor control. Likewise, alteration of its activity is associated with various diseases, so this receptor is an interesting target for drug action.
The TCPs developed by the scientific group may also serve to study the central nervous system, and to evaluate novel therapeutic molecules. Amadeu Llebaria said that TCPs may also be used to deliver drugs that act in a controlled manner in a particular area of the brain, which can be then be activated with micro-LEDs implanted in the body. The work is still in the phase of what is called proof of concept, which seeks to show if the strategy is possible or not.
Source: Agencia ID
