Principles and Applications of the Photochemical Control of Cellular Processes

(Figure Presented) In the cage: Photochemical control over biological processes is commonly achieved with caged molecules. While the first reported examples of caged compounds were small molecules, recent advances in caging technologies have enabled the photochemical regulation of oligonucleotide and protein function. This article discusses different approaches to the caging of small molecules, DNA, and proteins, and the requirements for efficient light regulation of cellular processes by using caged molecules. © 2010 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA.