The spatiotemporal aspects of Toll-Like Receptor (TLR), transmembrane proteins responsible for initiating immune responses, activation has yet to be elucidated despite being involved in a wide variety of immunological diseases. Fundamental understanding of these properties of TLRs has implications in improving vaccine development and in novel treatment of autoimmune disorders. We are developing novel photoswitchable immunostimulants by incorporating azobenzene moieties into the chemical structure of TLR agonists. These compounds can initiate immune response in various cell populations in a spatially and temporally controlled manner. Here, we show the synthesis of azobenzene-derivatized TLR1/2 agonists and that different biological effects are induced in cis and the trans conformations. This technology will further the understanding of the spatiotemporal aspects of TLR activation and allow us to study these parameters in the context of disease pathogenesis.<br/>

Photoswitchable immunostimulants for optical control of TLR activity

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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