Optochemical genetic control of bacterial porins through the use of azobenzene photoswitches

Vijay Chudasama (primary)
Chemistry
University College London
Paula Booth (secondary)
paula.booth@kcl.ac.uk
King's College London

Abstract

Light is capable of inducing a response in a huge variety of biological systems and is believed to be one of the stimuli responsible for the origin of life on Earth. Organisms have evolved to convert light into energy or biological signals; prominent examples include photosynthesis and vision. However, in recent years, scientists have used light to probe many biological systems. In this project, transport across porins on the surfaces of cells will be controlled through the use of azobenzene photoswitches as a means to probe down-stream biological consequences and regulate reactant/product flow between compartments in artificial cell arrays.


References

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BBSRC Area
Molecules, cells and industrial biotechnology
Area of Biology
Chemical BiologyStructural Biology
Techniques & Approaches
BiochemistryBiophysicsChemistryMicroscopy / ElectrophysiologyMolecular BiologySimulation / Modelling