F.W.W. Hartrampf, D.M. Barber, K. Gottschling, P. Leippe, M. Hollmann, and D. Trauner (2017).
Development of a photoswitchable antagonist of NMDA receptors.
Tetrahedron 73(33): 4905-4912.
doi: 10.1016/j.tet.2017.06.056
N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) are vital for neurological processes such as learning, memory, and synaptic plasticity. As such, small molecules that modulate their function are of interest in the study of numerous neurological diseases. We have synthesized a small library of photoswitches that modulate NMDAR function. The most efficient photoswitch to date is based on a known ligand of the glycine binding site and shows significant subtype selectivity.