# A subcellularly targeted photocaged inhibitor for mitochondrial carbonic anhydrase V

## TL;DR

This paper introduces a light-activated inhibitor that specifically targets a mitochondrial enzyme linked to obesity, allowing precise control over its activity.

## Contribution

The first photoactivatable inhibitor designed to target mitochondrial carbonic anhydrase V with subcellular precision.

## Key findings

- The inhibitor uses a coumarin cage and pyridinium group for mitochondrial targeting and light-controlled activation.
- Light exposure enables spatial and temporal inhibition of mitochondrial CA-V activity.
- The approach combines subcellular targeting with photoresponsive chemistry to modulate enzyme function.

## Abstract

We report the first photoactivatable inhibitor specifically targeting mitochondrial CA-V, a promising anti-obesity target. It features a sulfonamide metal-binding group caged with a photoremovable coumarin and guided to mitochondria via a pyridinium moiety. Light exposure removes the cage, enabling precise spatial and temporal inhibition of mitochondrial CA-V activity.

Selective targeting of mitochondrial carbonic anhydrases using subcellular directing and photoresponsive protecting groups to mask zinc active site coordinating ligand.