Synthesis of a Model Chelator for the Improvement of a Calcium Binding Photoswitch to be Used to Better Study Cell Signaling

The biological effects of calcium oscillations can be identified readily, but the mechanism giving rise to these effects on a molecular level has not been fully elucidated. Photochromic molecules designed to mimic calcium oscillations are being developed to study oscillatory calcium signaling in cells. A water soluble photochromic chelator was designed, synthesized, and published by the McCurdy Lab. Structural variations to this existing photoswitch will be used to increase the binding affinity to calcium. The closed binding site model N-phenyl-N, N’, N’-ethylenediamine triacetic acid will be synthesized and binding studies will be performed to determine calcium binding affinity. The synthetic progress toward this target will be presented.