A protecting group for carboxylic acids that can be photolyzed by visible light.

We report on a photolabile protecting (caging) group that is new for carboxylic acids. Unlike previously used caging groups for carboxylic acids, it can be photolyzed rapidly and efficiently in the visible wavelength region. The caging group 7-N,N-diethyl aminocoumarin (DECM) was used to cage the gamma-carboxyl group of glutamic acid, which is also a neurotransmitter. The caged compound has a major absorption band with a maximum at 390 nm (epsilon(390) = 13651 M(-)(1) cm(-)(1)). Experiments are performed at 400 nm (epsilon(400) = 12232 M(-)(1) cm(-)(1)) and longer wavelengths. DECM-caged glutamate is water soluble and stable at pH 7.4 and 22 degrees C. It photolyzes rapidly in aqueous solution to release glutamic acid within 3 micros with a quantum yield of 0.11 +/- 0.008 in the visible region. In whole-cell current-recording experiments, using HEK-293 cells expressing glutamate receptors and visible light for photolysis, DECM-caged glutamate and its photolytic byproducts were found to be biologically inert. Neurotransmitter receptors that are activated by various carboxyl-group-containing compounds play a central role in signal transmission between approximately 10(12) neurons of the nervous system. Caged neurotransmitters have become an essential tool in transient kinetic investigations of the mechanism of action of neurotransmitter receptors. Previously uncaging the compounds suitable for transient kinetic investigations required ultraviolet light and expensive lasers, and, therefore, special precautions. The availability of caged neurotransmitters suitable for transient kinetic investigations that can be photolyzed by visible light allows the use of simple-to-use, readily available inexpensive light sources, thereby opening up this important field to an increasing number of investigators.