Short Photoswitchable Ceramides Enable Optical Control of Apoptosis

We report short ceramide analogs that can be activated with light and further functionalized using azide-alkyne click chemistry. These molecules, termed scaCers, exhibit increased cell permeability compared to their long-chain analogs as demonstrated using mass spectrometry and imaging. Notably, scaCers enable optical control of apoptosis, which is not observed with long-chain variants. Additionally, they function as photo-switchable substrates for sphingomyelin synthase 2 (SMS2), exhibiting inverted light-dependence compared to their extended analogs.

Automated summary

Short ceramide analogs with enhanced cell permeability and optical control of apoptosis have been developed, which can also function as photo-switchable substrates for sphingomyelin synthase 2, showing inverted light-dependence compared to their long-chain analogs.