The psoralen family of compounds were originally discovered as natural products with the ability to cause
intense photosensitization reactions (exacerbated sunburn) in human skin. Under controlled conditions they became
a major tool in the dermatologic armamentarium for the treatment of several skin disorders. Simultaneously it was
found that they could also be used to unravel the details of molecular contacts between DNA and protein as well as
DNA strands.
Psoralens are members of the furocoumarin family - tricyclic structures  with an extended
aromatic system which gives rise to strong ultraviolet absorption bands near 220, 250 and 300 nm. While
many molecules may absorb UV light it is rare for photochemistry to occur. Furthermore it has been shown that
psoralen photochemistry in a solution and photochemistry within the confines of a cell can differ drastically

The psoralen photochemistry that is best understood is that which occurs when psoralen is intercalated between
DNA base pairs. A 2+2 photocycloadditon product is formed between pyrimidines (primarily thymidine
at 5'TpA sites) when the intercalation complex absorbs UV radiation.
 
 

8-MOP Analysis

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The laboratory performs clinical assays of 8-MOP plasma levels for PUVA and photopheresis patients.
View the article describing the assay

Rapid and sensitive analysis of 8-methoxypsoralen in plasma.
J.Invest. Derm. 90(2):234-6,1988 Feb.

The mission of YUPL is to explore the photobiology of psoralens, a class of compounds originally used in
the treatment of cutaneous diseases. The prototypical member of the family, 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP), was originally
developed for the treatment of psoriasis by TB Fitzpatrick and JA Parrish at Harvard in the early 1970s. Psoralen
activated with UVA (320-400 nm radiation) was remarkable for its ability to control psoriasis. In the 1980s
an extracorporeal modality was developed and brought to the market by Therakos Inc. to treat T cell disorders
and received FDA approval for the treatment of the rare disease cutaneous T cell lymphoma in 1987. Since then
extracorporeal photochemotherapy (ECP) has been shown to be effective formany other immune disorders
(scleroderma, arthritis, lupus erythematosus, graft versus host disease and the prevention of cardiac graft rejection).
Clinical trials for scleroderma and cardiac graft rejection are currently under way.
 

Important Numbers
Tax Identification 060-64-6973
Laboratory License CL-0500
Director Certificate 551
Medicare Certificate 07L0008215
Medicare Provider 690000319
CLIA Laboratory Certificate of Compliance (#07D0706791)
YUPL has been CLIA certified since 1992.