trans-AzoTAB is a photoresponsive potassium/sodium/calcium channel modulator and DNA-binding agent. trans-AzoTAB undergoes trans-cis isomerization driven by light, with variable polarity and DNA affinity. trans-AzoTAB also enhances voltage-gated potassium currents and inhibits sodium and calcium currents in cardiomyocytes, thereby reducing spontaneous electrical activity and excitation conduction velocity. In addition, trans-AzoTAB induces compaction and frozen conformation of lambda-phage DNA, and non-sequence-dependently inhibits transcription and translation processes in the dark, its activity can be reversed and restored by visible light after activation with ultraviolet irradiation. trans-AzoTAB can serve as a probe for two-photon optical regulation of myocardial excitability, and is used to construct photoresponsive interfacial polymer structures[1][2][3][4].
