Work

A Urease‐Based pH Photoswitch: A General Route to Light‐to‐pH Transduction

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: New approaches for the integration of chemical and physical stimuli to control the dynamics of artificial enzymatic reaction networks (ERNs) are needed. Here, we present a general approach to convert a light stimulus into a time‐programmed pH response. We developed and characterized a panel of photoswitchable inhibitors of urease. Urease activity, now regulated by light via the photoinhibitors, leads to an increase in pH upon hydrolysis of urea into ammonia. Careful choice of characteristics of light, and concentrations of enzyme, substrate, and photoinhibitor, allowed us to control the timing of the pH transition. Furthermore, as all enzymes have an activity–pH profile, the urease photoinhibitor system can be used to regulate the activities of other enzymes in small reaction networks.

Source: Angewandte Chemie

DOI: 10.1002/ange.202415614

Authors: Nikita M. Ivanov, Alexandar I. Slivkov, Wilhelm T. S. Huck

Institution: Radboud University Nijmegen

Language: English

Topic: Photochromic and Fluorescence Chemistry

Subfield: Materials Chemistry

Field: Materials Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $5,250

Funders: Ministerie van Onderwijs, Cultuur en Wetenschap, European Research Council