The photopharmacology of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are one of the most abundant classes of receptors present in the mammalian nervous system and play a significant role in synaptic transmission. The development of new tools that can precisely control the function of nAChRs is important for the study of their complex biological processes. It could also lead to new therapeutic treatments for neurological diseases associated with nAChRs. Herein, we present a review of the photopharmacology of nAChRs, where small photochromic ligands are used to control function using the high spatial and temporal precision of light. A survey of the literature shows that, although several diffusible photochromic ligands and photochromic tethered ligands exist, further development of new molecules is required to allow in-depth studies into the role of different nAChR subtypes.