Photoactivatable probes

Okay, so imagine you have a toy that can only turn on when you shine a special light on it. That's kind of how photoactivatable probes work. They are special molecules that can only become active when they are hit by a specific type of light.

Now, let's say you want to study cells in the body. You can't just stick a flashlight inside someone and look at their cells! So instead, scientists use these special molecules, called photoactivatable probes, to study cells.

First, they put the probes into the cells they want to study. Then, they shine the special light on the cells. When this happens, the probes become active and start to do their job. They might light up a certain part of the cell, or they might release a chemical that the scientists want to study.

This method allows scientists to study cells in a non-invasive way. They can use photoactivatable probes to see things that would otherwise be impossible to see. Plus, because the probes only activate when they are hit by the special light, scientists can control exactly when and where they want the probes to become active.

Overall, photoactivatable probes are an important tool for studying cells in a non-invasive, controlled way. They allow scientists to see things they couldn't see before, and to learn more about how cells work.