Issue 8, 2011

Azobenzene photoswitches for biomolecules

Abstract

The photoisomerization of azobenzene has been known for almost 75 years but only recently has this process been widely applied to biological systems. The central challenge of how to productively couple the isomerization process to a large functional change in a biomolecule has been met in a number of instances and it appears that effective photocontrol of a large variety of biomolecules may be possible. This critical review summarizes key properties of azobenzene that enable its use as a photoswitch in biological systems and describes strategies for using azobenzene photoswitches to drive functional changes in peptides, proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and carbohydrates (192 references).

Graphical abstract: Azobenzene photoswitches for biomolecules

Article information

Article type
Critical Review
Submitted
22 Jan 2011
First published
12 Apr 2011

Chem. Soc. Rev., 2011,40, 4422-4437

Azobenzene photoswitches for biomolecules

A. A. Beharry and G. A. Woolley, Chem. Soc. Rev., 2011, 40, 4422 DOI: 10.1039/C1CS15023E

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