| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Tottori University, Koyama-Minami 4–101, Tottori, 680-8552 Japan;2. Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University, Kita 10 Nishi 8, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-0810 Japan;3. Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University Oiwake-cho, Kitashirakawa, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8502 Japan;4. Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University, Kita 10 Nishi 8, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-0810 Japan Graduate School of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Hokkaido University, Kita 10 Nishi 8, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-0810 Japan |
| Abstract: | Spatiotemporal modulation of microtubules by light has become an important aspect of the biological and nanotechnological applications of microtubules. We previously developed a Tau-derived peptide as a binding unit to the inside of microtubules. Here, we conjugated the Tau-derived peptide to spiropyran, which is reversibly converted to merocyanine by light, as a reversible photocontrol system to stabilize microtubules. Among the synthesized peptides with spiropyran/merocyanine at different positions, several peptides were bound to the inside of microtubules and stabilized the structures of microtubules. The peptide with spiropyran at the N-terminus induced polymerization and stabilization of microtubules, whereas the same peptide with the merocyanine form did not exert these effects. Reversible formation of microtubules/tubulin aggregates was achieved using the peptide with spiropyran conjugated at the N-terminus and irradiation with UV and visible light. Spiropyran-conjugated Tau-derived peptides would be useful for spatiotemporal modulation of microtubule stability through reversible photocontrol of binding. |
