Functional tuning of biological molecules embedded in cellular regulation systems has always
attracted lots of attention in the life science research community. Recently, the availability of
photo-responsive biomolecules has introduced a plethora of new research topics, for instance
in controlled monitoring of protein function, but also in a cellular context directly modifying
protein function. These processes will be triggered by photo-reactive, photo-switchable, or
monitored by photon-emissive species.
This Research Topic in Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences aims at elucidating the complex
interplay between photo-responsivity and biomolecular properties on multiple scales.
On the one hand, the applications of actively switchable fluorophores in biological systems
with a special focus on absorption-induced conformational and chemical reactivity changes as
well as photon-emission-based imaging are central to exploiting and deciphering of
biological-, and biochemical function. In particular, quantitative analysis of molecular
interactions at cellular levels by means of photo-responsive biomolecules is of major interest.
On the other hand, the incorporation of novel photo-sensitive amino acids in proteins studied
in vitro will be particularly rewarding for a deepened knowledge of inherent and actively
imposed protein structure-function relationships and modulation of protein dynamics. The
active and reversible regulation of protein function by means of local conformational changes
and cross-linking reactions in vivo using photosensitive proteins and molecules represents
another focus for possible contributions.
Fundamental studies in therapeutic applications, nanomedicine and tissue regeneration are in
the defined scope of this Research Topic. Hence, we invite researchers to contribute to this
Research Topic in the form of original research papers, reviews and comments, including but
not limited to the following subtopics:
(i) Photosensors for quantitative analysis of protein interactions in cells.
(ii) Photo-reactive, photo-switchable molecules for control and modulation of cellular
functions.
(iii) The ingenious use of artificial photosensitive proteins and/or molecules to study protein
conformation and function or even to reversibly modify protein dynamics, structure, and
function.
(iv) Characterization of photosensitive and/or chemo-selectively reactive, artificial amino
acids and their use to study protein conformational dynamics and function both in vitro and in
vivo.
(v) Contributions discussing caveats as well as optimization strategies for the transfer of
photosensitive proteins, drugs, or non-canonical amino acids into a protein of interest, in
particular membrane proteins.
(vi) High resolution protein structures providing mechanistic insights into fluorophore
photochemistry, photo-switchable biosensors and other photosensitive proteins; moreover,
protein structures with chemo-selectively reactive, artificial and non-canonical amino acids
used to elucidate conformation-dynamics-function relationships.
Keywords:
photoswitches, biosensors, artificial amino acids, photosensitive biomolecules, structure-dynamics-function relationship
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
Functional tuning of biological molecules embedded in cellular regulation systems has always
attracted lots of attention in the life science research community. Recently, the availability of
photo-responsive biomolecules has introduced a plethora of new research topics, for instance
in controlled monitoring of protein function, but also in a cellular context directly modifying
protein function. These processes will be triggered by photo-reactive, photo-switchable, or
monitored by photon-emissive species.
This Research Topic in Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences aims at elucidating the complex
interplay between photo-responsivity and biomolecular properties on multiple scales.
On the one hand, the applications of actively switchable fluorophores in biological systems
with a special focus on absorption-induced conformational and chemical reactivity changes as
well as photon-emission-based imaging are central to exploiting and deciphering of
biological-, and biochemical function. In particular, quantitative analysis of molecular
interactions at cellular levels by means of photo-responsive biomolecules is of major interest.
On the other hand, the incorporation of novel photo-sensitive amino acids in proteins studied
in vitro will be particularly rewarding for a deepened knowledge of inherent and actively
imposed protein structure-function relationships and modulation of protein dynamics. The
active and reversible regulation of protein function by means of local conformational changes
and cross-linking reactions in vivo using photosensitive proteins and molecules represents
another focus for possible contributions.
Fundamental studies in therapeutic applications, nanomedicine and tissue regeneration are in
the defined scope of this Research Topic. Hence, we invite researchers to contribute to this
Research Topic in the form of original research papers, reviews and comments, including but
not limited to the following subtopics:
(i) Photosensors for quantitative analysis of protein interactions in cells.
(ii) Photo-reactive, photo-switchable molecules for control and modulation of cellular
functions.
(iii) The ingenious use of artificial photosensitive proteins and/or molecules to study protein
conformation and function or even to reversibly modify protein dynamics, structure, and
function.
(iv) Characterization of photosensitive and/or chemo-selectively reactive, artificial amino
acids and their use to study protein conformational dynamics and function both in vitro and in
vivo.
(v) Contributions discussing caveats as well as optimization strategies for the transfer of
photosensitive proteins, drugs, or non-canonical amino acids into a protein of interest, in
particular membrane proteins.
(vi) High resolution protein structures providing mechanistic insights into fluorophore
photochemistry, photo-switchable biosensors and other photosensitive proteins; moreover,
protein structures with chemo-selectively reactive, artificial and non-canonical amino acids
used to elucidate conformation-dynamics-function relationships.
Keywords:
photoswitches, biosensors, artificial amino acids, photosensitive biomolecules, structure-dynamics-function relationship
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.