Hypocrellin is a new photosensitive pigment discovered for the first time in China. It mainly has two effective components, hypocrellin A and hypocrellin B. Because of the structural characteristics of hypocrellin, its properties have many applications, mainly including the following three points:

    1. Hypocrellin B as a protein fluorescence quenching agent

    Since Weber first proposed that oxygen can be used as a protein fluorescence quenching agent for the determination of the structure and conception of biological macromolecules in solution in 1973, great progress has been made in the fluorescence quenching measurement technology and methods. Because the structure and conformation changes of many important protein molecules in the life system occur in the membrane, it is of great significance to study the structure and conformation state of membrane proteins. However, fluorescence quenching technology can easily obtain important information of many biological macromolecules by using the luminescent genes of the protein itself and adding a quenching agent in the solution. Therefore, this method has attracted widespread attention. However, it is difficult to operate gaseous oxygen molecules in the actual determination work. Only acrylamide is the only neutral quenching agent used for protein fluorescence at present. However, it is only water-soluble and not easy to enter the cell membrane, which limits the dynamics of protein fluorescence quenching in the membrane. Undoubtedly, it is looking for an excellent membrane protein fluorescence quenching agent.Fungicide, It is a research project with certain theoretical and application value.

    Hypocrellin is a perylene quinone phytochrome. Many studies have shown that it is mainly concentrated in the membrane ester region of the cell membrane. It is a new type of photosensitizer, which has been well known by everyone. Although as early as the study of the physical and chemical characteristics of hypocrellin, some literatures have proposed that it may be used as an excellent probe for biological macromolecules. A good protein fluorescence quenching agent with membrane system must have the following properties: high quenching efficiency; It can quickly enter the cell membrane; The difference of partition coefficient between membrane and water should be large enough; Neutral molecule, easy to use. Almost all of the above properties are available in B. the only deficiency is that the molecular weight of B is larger than that of other protein fluorescence quenchers. Therefore, it is of great value to study the fluorescence quenching process of intact erythrocyte membrane proteins by using the physical and chemical characteristics of B molecule.

    2. Hypocrellin B as a photodynamic drug

    Hypocrellin is a new photosensitive pigment discovered for the first time in China and used in clinic. It can be used as a photodynamic drug and has a significant effect on many skin diseases. Recently, it has been found that hypocrellin can selectively enrich some tumor cells and effectively inhibit their growth. Hypocrellin A and hypocrellin B are two main active components of hypocrellin A, which are perylene quinone derivatives. Hypocrellin and its derivatives have the advantages of easy purification, low cost, clear structure of effective components, good chemical modification, high triplet quantum yield and singlet oxygen quantum yield of photosensitizer, dual photosensitization function of type I and type II, low dark toxicity, fast removal from normal tissues, etc. hypocrellin and its derivatives are phototherapeutic drugs with good application prospects. This year, they proved their anti HIV and anti-tumor activities. Preliminary laboratory studies showed that hypocrellin as a light activated pesticide had a positive effect on insect control; Hypocrellin photosensitizers have special advantages in photodynamic therapy of common microvascular diseases. As a practical drug, one of the key problems to be solved is the preparation of drugs, that is, to provide stable, non-toxic and convenient preparations without affecting the photosensitive activity of drugs.

    3、Hypocrellin BIt can be used as a new green pesticide

    For many years, scientists have been pursuing green pesticides, which are efficient to pests, harmless to humans and animals, and pollution-free to the environment. Photodynamic or photo activated pesticides seem to show such a prospect. The future directions are: (1) to isolate and identify effective photosensitizers from nature and synthesize new photosensitizers (2) to design toxic molecules according to the principle of photodynamic force, the action of O2 and the characteristics of biomolecular targets; (3) Study on high-efficiency bait of different pests (4) research and application of herbicide development. In addition, photoactivators have a remarkable feature: toxicity can be activated and controlled by light. The toxicity of photoactivators does not show in the dark environment, but can be activated and controlled by light. The toxicity of photoactivators does not show in the dark environment, but can be activated by light, and the toxicity increases with the increase of light intensity. The characteristics of this switch are unique to photoactivators. Further research and development of this switch may provide a new strategy for pest management. Another feature of the photosensitizer we selected is that it is degraded by self sensitive photooxidation under continuous light, so it will not accumulate in the environment; In addition, the research shows that this photosensitizer is harmless to people, livestock, birds and plants, and has the desired "green" characteristics.