Photoreactive synthetic regulator of protein function and methods of use thereof

A method for conferring light sensitivity to a cell in an eye of a subject, the method comprising administering to an eye of the subject an effective amount of a compound having the formula:

• (A)n-X1-(B)m-X2-(C)p
• wherein
• A is a polypeptide association moiety selected from hydrogen, C1-C10 alkyl, substituted C1-C10 alkyl, —NR10R11, —NR12C(O)R13, C2-10 alkenyl, substituted C2-10 alkenyl, C2-10 alkynyl, substituted C2-10 alkynyl, C6-20 aryl, substituted C6-20 aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclic, heterocyclooxy, heterocyclothio, heteroarylamino, heterocycloamino, C4-10 cycloalkyl, substituted C4-10 cycloalkyl, C4-10 cycloalkenyl, substituted C4-10 cycloalkenyl, cyano, halo, —OR10, —C(O)OR10, —SR10, —S(O)R10, —S(O)2R10;
• wherein
• R10 and R11 are independently selected from hydrogen, C1-10 alkyl, and substituted C1-C10 alkyl;
• R12 is hydrogen or C1-10 alkyl;
• and
• R13 is selected from hydrogen, C1-10 alkyl, C1-8 alkenyl, C6-10 aryl, and substituted C1-10 alkyl;
• B is a photoisomerizable group comprising an azobenzene;
• C is a ligand selected from an agonist, an antagonist, an allosteric modulator, and a blocker;
• n is 1;
• each of m and p is independently an integer from 1 to 10;
• and
• X1 and X2 are each an optional spacer independently selected from alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, acyl, acylamino, and aminoacyl,
• or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,
• wherein the administering is sufficient to confer light sensitivity to the cell in the eye of the subject.