The search for chemical probes which allow a controlled fluorescence activation in living cells represent a major challenge in chemical biology. To be useful, such probes have to be specifically targeted to cellular proteins allowing thereof the analysis of dynamic aspects of this protein in its cellular environment. The present paper describes different methods which have been developed to control cellular fluorescence activation emphasizing the photochemical activation methods known to be orthogonal to most cellular components and, in addition, allowing a spatio-temporal controlled triggering of the fluorescent signal.
Laboratoire de Conception et Application de Molécules Bioactives, UMR 7199 CNRS, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Strasbourg, 74, route du Rhin, BP 60024, 67401 Illkirch cedex, France.
