# Photochemical regulation of calcium in cell physiology

> **NIH NIH R01** · ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI · 2020 · $509,346

## Abstract

The goal of proposal is the development of new optical probes for controlling
intracellular signaling pathways. Over the past 20 years we have made many
optical probes which we call caged compounds that have been the widely of all
such probes in the field of cell physiology. For example, the caged calcium
probes we have developed have been used in hundreds of experiments by many
laboratories studying the physiology of many cell types. More recently, the caged
neurotransmitters developed under the aegis of this grant have had wide impact.
In order to translate our technological innovations into reality we take a
multidisciplinary approach, combining synthetic organic chemistry and
photochemistry, laser photophysics, and cellular physiology. An additional vital
feature of our work is that we have forged long-term collaborative relationships
with noted physiologists. These interactions have been vital the development of
useful and important caged compounds as it is the biological problems that
define the probes. In this proposal we seek to address an important gap in the
area of optical chemical methods that are used for photochemical probing of
intracellular signaling pathways, namely, the ability to accomplish simultaneous,
multimodal optical control of parallel signaling processes using regular lasers
widely available on all confocal microscopes. Secondly, we will develop new
optical probes for highly efficient two-photon excitation. In collaboration with
physical chemists and cardiac physiologists we will make a test these new
probes. The overall goal of this proposal is to develop new photochemical tools
that allow precise optical control of intracellular signaling pathways.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9868312
- **Project number:** 5R01GM053395-23
- **Recipient organization:** ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI
- **Principal Investigator:** Graham Ellis-Davies
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $509,346
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1995-02-01 → 2022-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9868312

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9868312, Photochemical regulation of calcium in cell physiology (5R01GM053395-23). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9868312. Licensed CC0.

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