Bio

Using Light to Probe and Control Molecular Function in Biology and Medicine

The Glazer Group develops light-responsive molecules to probe, control, and manipulate biological and chemical processes with high spatial and temporal precision. These chemical tools are applied in cellular systems to reveal how enzymes recognize and respond to small molecule ligands, how environmental features alter the lifecycle of proteins, and how specific molecular interactions govern complex biological behavior. A major application area is the development of photoactivated metal-based prodrugs, including photocaging and photoswitching approaches, enabling targeted therapies with reduced systemic toxicity. Complementary efforts focus on the medicinal chemistry and biophysics of Cytochrome P450 enzymes, with an emphasis on isoforms with activities related to cancer and neurological disorders, and molecular tools to regulate and reveal endogenous metal homeostasis mechanisms. In parallel, the team engineers reporter cell lines that provide optical signatures to reveal the function and dysfunction of individual cellular processes. Together, this interdisciplinary work integrates synthetic chemistry, photochemistry, enzymology, bioinorganic chemistry, and cell biology to advance precision control and understanding of molecular systems relevant to health.