Synthesis and Application of Photocaged Isopropyl β-D-1-Thiogalactopyranoside for Light-Mediated Control of Bacterial Gene Expression

Methods Mol Biol. 2025:2840:133-148. doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-4047-0_10.

Abstract

Photocaged compounds are chemical conjugates that are designed to release an active molecule upon exposure to light of a specific wavelength. In recent years, photocaged inducer molecules such as caged isopropyl β-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside (cIPTG) have been increasingly used as a powerful tool for light-driven gene expression in bacteria, allowing researchers to precisely and noninvasively tune the expression of specific target genes. In this chapter, we present a guideline for the synthesis of 6-nitropiperonyl photocaged IPTG (NP-cIPTG) as well as its in vivo application as an optochemical on-switch of gene transcription in Escherichia coli and other bacteria.

Keywords: Caged compounds; Gene expression; Light regulation; Optochemical control; Optogenetics; Photochemistry; Synthetic biology.

MeSH terms

  • Escherichia coli* / genetics
  • Escherichia coli* / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial* / drug effects
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial* / radiation effects
  • Isopropyl Thiogalactoside* / pharmacology
  • Light*

Substances

  • Isopropyl Thiogalactoside