Synthetic Organic Biochemistry

Our laboratory is engaged in the development of new small molecules for investigation of biological problems. The main research activity focuses on the design of novel photoremovable protecting groups and the synthesis, characterisation and application of caged compounds. Caged compounds are photolabile inactive derivatives of biological active substances, from which the active biomolecules are rapidly liberated through UV/Vis or IR irradiation. They are useful tools in the study of complex biological processes, since they may diffuse uniformly into cells or tissue preparations, whereafter flash photolysis they rapidly (up to ns-range) release the biomolecule at its site of action and permit real-time monitoring of biological events.

At present we work on the following projects:

• Development of new caging groups (photoactivatable coumarinylmethyl and nitrobenzyl protecting groups)
• Synthesis and photochemistry of caged biomolecules (nucleotides, neurotransmitters, amino acids, peptides, protons, etc.)
• Application of caged compounds (collaborations with research groups inside and outside the institute)