PBIO SEMINAR SERIES

Controlling Physiology with Light

Wednesday - November 29, 2006
06-07 Seminar Series

Joseph P. Y. Kao
University of Maryland
Speaker's website

Host: Santana

A “caged” molecule is a biological inactive but photosensitive precursor that is rapidly transformed into a fully bio-active molecule upon exposure to a flash of light. The bio-active molecule that is thus generated acts as a biochemical trigger – it can be a hormone, a neurotransmitter, a second messenger, or an enzyme modulator. Therefore, in combination with focused light pulses, caged molecules represent a simple methodology for manipulating biology in living cells or tissues with excellent temporal and spatial resolution. I will present examples of how caged molecules are used to manipulate neurotransmission at single synapses, to stimulate single sensory nerve terminals, to perturb intracellular calcium signaling, and to trigger gene expression.