“Turn ON/OFF your LOV light”: Borondipyrromethene–Flavin Dyads as Biomimetic Switches Derived from the LOV Domain

Abstract

Molecular lamps: Analogously to a lamp with a light bulb, a switch, and a plug, the fluorescent ON state of dyad 1 can be blocked by other means besides the light switch (“removing the plug”). By using flavin as a redox unit and thermal or UV-activated thiol/disulfide redox chemistry, one can switch between the oxidized and reduced forms of the dyad (see picture). The reaction is reminiscent of the LOV domains of blue-light photoreceptors such as the phototropins.