An Agonist/Antagonist Photo‐Switchable Vitamin D Mimetic Enables Bidirectional Optical Control of VDR

X Xiu Ge (Department of Pharmacy Ludwig‐Maximilians‐University (LMU) Munich Munich Germany) S Sabine Willems (Department of Pharmacy Ludwig‐Maximilians‐University (LMU) Munich Munich Germany) F Francesco Melfi (Department of Pharmacy Ludwig‐Maximilians‐University (LMU) Munich Munich Germany) T Tufan Mukhopadhyay (Department of Chemistry New York University New York New York USA) J Johannes Morstein (Department of Chemistry New York University New York New York USA) J Jordan Artzy (Department of Chemistry University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia Pennsylvania USA) L Loris Knümann (Department of Pharmacy Ludwig‐Maximilians‐University (LMU) Munich Munich Germany) G Giorgia Sbriccoli (Department of Pharmacy Ludwig‐Maximilians‐University (LMU) Munich Munich Germany) J Jörg Pabel (Department of Pharmacy) J Julian A. Marschner (Department of Pharmacy Ludwig‐Maximilians‐University (LMU) Munich Munich Germany) D Dirk Trauner (P. Roy and Diana T. Vagelos Laboratories, Department of Chemistry) D Daniel Merk (Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy)

Abstract

ABSTRACT The secosteroid vitamin D (vitD) is essential for human health, maintaining bone metabolism, calcium homeostasis, and immune function via the vitamin D receptor (VDR). VDR activation has complex and cell‐specific effects in multiple tissues and spatial control of VDR activity is desirable. Here, we developed vitD mimetics bearing a photo‐switchable azobenzene motif to achieve spatiotemporal resolution in VDR activation. Structure‐guided tuning of regiochemistry and H‐bonding motifs provided a potent and selective vitD mimetic that can be reversibly switched in cellulo between agonist and antagonist states with light. In a model of osteogenesis, this unique bidirectional precision tool mediated light‐dependent osteogenic and osteolytic effects.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 65, Issue 29
Published July 13, 2026
ISSN 1433-7851
Publisher Wiley

Journal Info

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Wiley

ISSN: 1433-7851 Physical Sciences

Authors (12)

X

Xiu Ge

Department of Pharmacy Ludwig‐Maximilians‐University (LMU) Munich Munich Germany

S

Sabine Willems

Department of Pharmacy Ludwig‐Maximilians‐University (LMU) Munich Munich Germany

F

Francesco Melfi

Department of Pharmacy Ludwig‐Maximilians‐University (LMU) Munich Munich Germany

T

Tufan Mukhopadhyay

Department of Chemistry New York University New York New York USA

J

Johannes Morstein

Department of Chemistry New York University New York New York USA

J

Jordan Artzy

Department of Chemistry University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia Pennsylvania USA

L

Loris Knümann

Department of Pharmacy Ludwig‐Maximilians‐University (LMU) Munich Munich Germany

G

Giorgia Sbriccoli

Department of Pharmacy Ludwig‐Maximilians‐University (LMU) Munich Munich Germany

J

Jörg Pabel

Department of Pharmacy

J

Julian A. Marschner

Department of Pharmacy Ludwig‐Maximilians‐University (LMU) Munich Munich Germany

D

Dirk Trauner

P. Roy and Diana T. Vagelos Laboratories, Department of Chemistry

D

Daniel Merk

Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy