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Article: The peripheral benzodiazepine receptor in photodynamic therapy with the phthalocyanine photosensitizer Pc 4
- Article from:
- Photochemistry and Photobiology
- Article date:
- June 1, 2002
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright American Society of Photobiology Jun 2002. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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The Peripheral Benzodiazepine Receptor in Photodynamic Therapy with the Phthalocyanine Photosensitizer Pc 4(para)
ABSTRACT
The peripheral benzodiazepine receptor (PBR) is an 18 kDa protein of the outer mitochondrial membrane that interacts with the voltage-dependent anion channel and may participate in formation of the permeability transition pore. The physiological role of PBR is reflected in the high-affinity binding of endogenous ligands that are metabolites of both cholesterol and heme. Certain porphyrin precursors of heme can be photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy (PDT), which depends on visible light activation of porphyrin-related macrocycles. Because the apparent binding ...