# Optical Control of the Actin Cytoskeleton

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA · 2024 · $327,196

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
The goal of this project is the optical control of the actin cytoskeleton with photoswitchable
molecules. These compounds target monomeric G-actin, polymeric F-actin, the nucleator
complex Arp2/3, and the motor protein myosin II. Our probes aimed at F-actin and G-actin are
derived from the natural products jasplakinolide, yielding opto-Jasp, cytochalasin D (opto-Chal),
and latrunculin B (opto-Lat), respectively. The photoswitchable molecules for Arp2/3 stem from
CK-666 (opto-CK) and the photoswitchable myosin 2 inhibitors from blebbistatin and similar
compounds (opto-MI). We have already obtained significant preliminary results in a variety of
cells (e.g. yeast, HeLa, neurons, oligodendrocytes, microglia). Our proposed program constitutes
the continuation of our long-standing and successful program on optically controlling actin and
tubulin, as well as associated motor proteins with photoswitchable small molecules. The close
collaboration between a chemical biologist and a structural biologist will yield useful probes that
are shared with the community and could form the basis of a new form of precision
chemotherapeutics.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10928168
- **Project number:** 5R01GM126228-06
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
- **Principal Investigator:** DIRK HARTWIG TRAUNER
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $327,196
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-08-01 → 2027-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10928168

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10928168, Optical Control of the Actin Cytoskeleton (5R01GM126228-06). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-01 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10928168. Licensed CC0.

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