Reagents and method for spatio-temporal control of gene expression by illumination

Abstract

A caged non-steroidal Ecdysone mimetic (NSE) compound and a method for producing free NSE by subjecting the charged NSE to UV irradiation.

1 . A caged non-steroidal ecdysome memetic (NSE) compound represented by the following formula:  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein the NSE is water soluble and accumulates in a host cell.  
     
     
         2 . The NSE compound of  claim 1  wherein the acyl group is an acyloxymethyl ester.  
     
     
         3 . The NSE compound of  claim 2 , wherein the acyloxymethyl ester is acetoxymethyl.  
     
     
         4 . The NSE compound of  claim 2 , wherein the acyl group is cleaved within the host cell by an esterase.  
     
     
         5 . The NSE compound of  claim 1 , wherein the NSE is a membrane-permeant.  
     
     
         6 . A method for expressing a gene in a host cell under the control of an ecdysone promoter control, the method comprising: 
 transfecting a host with a vector comprising an expressible gene;    introducing a caged non-steroidal ecdysome memetic (NSE) compound represented by the following formula:                          irradiating the host cells for UV light in an amount sufficient to photoactivate the cells;    culturing the host cell under conditions sufficient for expression of the gene; and    recovering the expressed gene.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the acyl group is an acyloxymethyl ester.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the acyloxymethyl ester is acetoxymethyl.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said irradiating is carried out after perfusing tissue or cultured cells with an aqueous solution containing said compound.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said irradiating is carried out after microinjecting cells with an aqueous solution containing said compound.