Adenosines labeled with Photo-labile groups ("Caged")
"Caged" nucleotides contain a photolabile group that renders them biologically inactive. Flash photolysis of the caging group by ultraviolet light leads to a rapid and highly localized release of the biologically active nucleotide from the inactive caged species.
"Caged" nucleotides are used for:
- Monitoring of fast kinetics
- Time-resolved X-ray crystallography
- Identification and chracaterization of drug targets