MODIFIED MSCL PROTEIN CHANNEL

摘要

The invention relates to the field of drug delivery, in particular to compounds and methods for the chemical modification of a proteinaceous channel to be used in pharmaceutical delivery vehicles for controlled and/ or localised release of therapeutic molecules (e.g. small molecules, peptides, proteins or other macromolecules). Provided are pH- and/or light-responsive compounds capable of controlling the channel activity of a mechanosensitive channel, such as the MscL channel protein of E.coli, or a functional equivalent thereof, and use of these compounds to convert a mechanosensitive channel protein into a pH- and/or light-responsive channel. Also provided are drug delivery vehicles comprising a pH- and/or light-responsive channel protein.