1-Acyl-5-methoxy-8-nitro-1,2-dihydroquinoline: a biologically useful photolabile precursor of carboxylic acids

The synthesis, photochemistry, and biological application of 1-acyl-5-methoxy-8-nitro-1,2-dihydroquinoline (MNDQ-caged carboxylic acid) are described. Optimization experiments were carried out on three acetyl derivatives (3a–c), and the most appropriate analogue for application to the caging of glutamate was determined to be 3c. Thus, a MNDQ-caged glutamate (MNDQ-Glu) was synthesized, and the photochemical release of glutamate by uncaging of MNDQ-Glu was confirmed by NMR, MS, and HPLC analysis. When MNDQ-Glu was tested with pyramidal neurons in hippocampal slices, whole-field UV illumination resulted in a large inward current due to the release of l-glutamate. A short two-photon uncaging of MNDQ-Glu at single dendritic spines induced a transient current that exhibited similar kinetic properties to miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSC).