Publications

  • J. Filo, P. Magdolen, I. Sigmundová, A. Bianco, D. Giughello, M. Danielli, N. Pardus, A. Szukalski, L. Sznitko, E. Peci, M. Canepa, Š. Budzák, M. Singh, C. Slavov, M. Cigáň. "From Molecular Design to Application Potential: An All-Visible-Light Diarylethene Photoswitch with Near-Quantitative Photoconversion and High Photostability", JACS,  (2026). 
    DOI:10.1021/jacs.6c12099
2026_DTE.
    • D. Sun, D. Krappmann, C. Oleszak, J. Lienert, C. Slavov, A. Hirsch, J. Wachtveitl. "Photocontrolled Isomerization Pathways of Tolylsulfonyl- and Pyrene-Linked Norbornadiene Systems Driven by Absorption Band Targeting", JACS, 148 (2026) 38500. 
      DOI:10.1021/jacs.6c14776
2026_NBD.
    • S. R. Kell, A. D. Barkley, C. Slavov*. "Structure-First Design of a Photoswitchable JAK2 Inhibitor Candidate with Isomer-Selective Binding", Comput. Biol. Chem., 125 (2026) 109335. 
      DOI:10.1016/j.compbiolchem.2026.109335
2026_JAK2
    • P. Karki, W. Budell, R. Kannachel, D. Menendez, C. Hernandez, J. Mendez, S. Kanou, M. Singh, C. Slavov, P. Schwander, T. Malla, E. Stojković, M. Schmidt. "A bacteriophytochrome Pr/Pfr heterodimer studied through single-particle time-resolved cryo-electron microscopy", Commun. Chem.,  (2026). 
      DOI:10.1038/s42004-026-02084-6
2026_heterodimer
    • T. Fischer, L. Köhler, F. Trunk, Q-Z. Xu, K-H. Zhao, V. Rohr, J. Matysik, W. Gärtner, J. Wachtveitl, C. Song, C. Slavov*. "PHY Domain Governs Structural and Photochemical Fidelity in the Far-Red-Absorbing State of Phytochromes", Front. Mol. Biosci., 13 (2026) 1753512.
      DOI:10.3389/fmolb.2026.1753512
2026_g1g2
    • T. Sassmannshausen, N. Oberhof, M. A. Strauss, C. Slavov, H. A. Wegner, A. Dreuw, J. Wachtveitl. "Dispersion-Controlled Excited-State Dynamics in Azobenzene Photoisomerization", JACS, 148 (2026) 997. 
      DOI:10.1021/jacs.5c16915
AB_Disp_2025
    • D. Sun, N. Oberhof, K. Hanke, A. Kunz, A. Heindl, L. Kaltschnee, C. Thiele, C. Slavov, A. Dreuw, J. Wachtveitl, H. A. Wegner. "Alternating Orthogonal Switching in a Thiophenyl-Phenyl-Bis-Azobenzene Switch", Chem. Eur. J., (2025) e01976.
      DOI:10.1002/chem.202501976
AB_TphAB_2025
    • T. Malla, L. Aldama, V. Leon, D. Feliz, H. Hu, I. Thomas, A. Cellini, W. Wahlgren, A. Nimmrich, S. Botha, R. Sierra, M. Hunter, F. Poitevin, S. Lisova, A. Batyuk, G. Gate, R. Jernigan, C. Kupitz, P. Maj, P. Meszaros, M. Kurttila, L. Monrroy, F. Luo, S. Owada, J. Kang, C. Slavov, M. Maj, C. Gautier, M. Kashipathy, A. Tolstikova, V. Mariani, A. Barty, F. Moss, P. Schwander, H. Liu, S. Boutet, P. Fromme, H. Takala, J. Ihalainen, U. Weierstall, S. Westenhoff, E. Stojković, M. Schmidt. "Observation of early events in the photoactivation of Myxobacterial phytochrome using time-resolved serial femtosecond crystallography", Commun. Chem. , 8 (2025) 183.
      DOI:10.1038/s42004-025-01578-z
Myxo_Phyt_2025
    • F. Trunk, L. Köhler, T. Fischer, W. Gärtner, C. Song, C. Slavov*, J. Wachtveitl. "Single GAF domain phytochrome exhibits a pH-dependent shunt on the millisecond timescale", ChemPhysChem, (2025) e202401022.
      DOI:10.1002/cphc.202401022
Shunt_2024
    • H. Glover , T. Saßmannshausen , Q. Bertrand, M. Trabuco, C. Slavov, A. Bacchin, F. Andres, Y. Kondo, R. Stipp, M. Wranik, G. Khusainov, M. Carrillo, D. Kekilli, J. Nan, A. Gonzalez, R. Cheng, W. Neidhart, T. Weinert, F. Leonarski, F. Dworkowski, M. Kepa, J. Wachtveitl, M. Hennig, J. Standfuss. "Photoswitch dissociation from a G protein-coupled receptor resolved by time-resolved serial crystallography", Nat. Commun., 15 (2024) 10837
      DOI:10.1038/s41467-024-55109-w
A2a_2025
    • T. Saßmannshausen, H. Glover, M. Trabuco, W. Neidhart, R. Cheng, M. Hennig, C. Slavov, J. Standfuss, J. Wachtveitl. "Kinetic Basis for the Design of Azobenzene-Based Photoswitchable A2a Adenosine Receptor Ligands", JACS, 146 (2024) 32670
      DOI:10.1021/jacs.4c11995
A2a_2024
    • L. Köhler, F. Trunk, V. Rohr, T. Fischer, W. Gärtner, J. Wachtveitl, J. Matysik, C. Slavov*, C. Song. "Rotameric heterogeneity of conserved tryptophan is responsible for reduced photochemical quantum yield in cyanobacteriochrome slr1393g3", ChemPhysChem, (2024) e202400453
      DOI:10.1002/cphc.202400453
Y2F2_mutant_2024
    • T. Saßmannshausen, A. Kunz, N. Oberhof, F. Schneider, C. Slavov, A. Dreuw, J. Wachtveitl, H. A. Wegner. "Wavelength Selective Photocontrol of Hybrid Azobenzene-Spiropyran Photoswitches with Overlapping Chromophores", Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 63 (2024) e202314112
      DOI:10.1002/anie.202314112
Pr_g1_mutant_2023
    • L. Hegedüsová, N. Blaise, L. F. Pašteka, Š. Budzák, M. Medveď, J. Filo, B. Mravec, C. Slavov, J. Wachtveitl, A. M. Grabarz, C. Marek. "Enhancing the Potential of the Fused Heterocycle-Based Triarylhydrazone Photoswitches", Chem. Eur. J., 30 (2024) e202303509
      DOI:10.1002/chem.202303509
Hydrazones_2023
    • T. Fischer, L. Köhler, P. D. Engel, C. Song, W. Gärtner, J. Wachtveitl, C. Slavov*. "Conserved Tyrosine in Phytochromes Controls the Photodynamics through Steric Demand and Hydrogen Bonding Capabilities", BBA Bioenerg., 1864 (2023) 148996.
      DOI:10.1016/j.bbabio.2023.148996
Pr_g1_mutant_2023
    • M. Wranik, T. Weinert, C. Slavov, et. al. "Watching the release of a photopharmacological drug from tubulin using time-resolved serial crystallography", Nat. Commun., 14 (2023) 903.
      DOI:10.1038/s41467-023-36481-5
AC4-TD1_2023
    • T. Fischer, L. Köhler, T. Ott, C. Chen, J. Wachtveitl, C. Slavov*, "Influence of the PHY domain on the ms-photoconversion dynamics of a knotless phytochrome", Photochem. Photobiol. Sci., 21 (2022) 1627.
      DOI:10.1007/s43630-022-00245-9
g1g2_flashphoto_2022
    • T. Fischer, L. J. G. W van Wilderen, P. Gnau, J. Bredenbeck, L.-O. Essen, J. Wachtveitl, C. Slavov*, "Ultrafast Photoconversion Dynamics of the Knotless Phytochrome SynCph2", Int. J. Mol. Sci., 22 (2021) 10690.
      DOI:10.3390/ijms221910690
Cph2_2021
    • B. Mravec, Š. Budzák, M. Medved, L. Pašteka, C. Slavov, T. Saßmannshausen, J. Wachtveitl, J. Kožíšek, L. Hegedüsová, J. Filo, M. Cigáň, "Design of High-Performance Pyridine/Quinoline Hydrazone Photoswitches", J. Org. Chem., 86 (2021) 11633.
      DOI:10.1021/acs.joc.1c01174
Hydrazones_2021
    • J. Weissbecker, C. Boumrifak, M. Breyer, T. Wießalla, V. Shevchenko, T. Mager, C. Slavov, A. Alekseev, K. Kovalev, V. Gordeliy, E. Bamberg, J. Wachtveitl, "The voltage dependent sidedness of the reprotonation of the retinal Schiff base determines the unique inward pumping of Xenorhodopsin", Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 60 (2021) 23010.
      DOI:10.1002/anie.202103882
XeR dynamics 2021
    • P. Eberhardt, C. Slavov, J. Sörmann, C. Bamann, M. Braun, J. Wachtveitl, "Temperature Dependence of the Krokinobacter rhodopsin 2 Kinetics", Biophys. J., 120 (2021) 568.
      DOI:10.1016/j.bpj.2020.12.011
KR2 dynamics 2020
    • T. Fischer, Q. Xu, K.-H. Zhao, W. Gärtner, C. Slavov*, J. Wachtveitl, "Effect of the PHY domain on the photoisomerization step of the forward Pr → Pfr conversion of a knotless phytochrome", Chem. Eur. J., 26 (2020) 17261.
      DOI:10.1002/chem.202003138
g1g2 dynamics_2020
    • C. Slavov*, T. Fischer, A. Barnoy, H. Shin, A. G. Rao, C. Wiebeler, X. Zeng, Y. Sun, Q. Xu, A. Gutt, K.-H. Zhao, W. Gärtner, X. Yang, I. Schapiro, J. Wachtveitl, "The interplay between chromophore and protein determines the extended excited state dynamics in a single-domain phytochrome", Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 117 (2020) 16356.
      DOI:10.1073/pnas.1921706117
SingleGAFdynamics_2020
    • L. Čechová, J. Filo, M. Dračínský, C. Slavov, D. Sun, Z. Janeba, T. Slanina, J. Wachtveitl, E. Procházková, M. Cigáň, "Polysubstituted 5-Phenylazopyrimidines Extremely Fast Non-Ionic Photochromic Oscillators", Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 59 (2020) 15590.
      Cover feature
      DOI:10.1002/anie.202007065
Azopyrimidines_2020
    • C. Slavov, C. Yang, A. H. Heindl, H. A. Wegner, A. Dreuw, and J. Wachtveitl, "Thiophenylazobenzene – an alternative photoisomerization controlled by lone pair∙∙∙π interaction", Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 59 (2020) 380.
      DOI:10.1002/anie.201909739
SubstBisAB_2019
    • C. Boumrifak, C. Yang, S. Bellotto, H. A. Wegner, J. Wachtveitl, A. Dreuw, C. Slavov*, "Isomerization dynamics of electronically coupled but thermodynamically decoupled bisazobenzenes", ChemPhotoChem, 3 (2019) 411.
      Cover feature
      DOI: 10.1002/cptc.201900077
SubstBisAB_2019
MTA_18
    • C. Slavov, C. Yang, A. H. Heindl, T. Stauch, H. A. Wegner, A. Dreuw, and J. Wachtveitl, "Twist and Return – Induced Ring Strain Triggers Quick Relaxation of a (Z)-Stabilized Cyclobisazobenzene", J. Phys. Chem. Lett., 9 (2018) 4776.
      DOI:10.1021/acs.jpclett.8b02159
CBA18
    • D. Farci, C. Slavov, D. Piano, "Coexisting properties of thermostability and ultraviolet radiation resistance in the main S-layer complex of Deinococcus radiodurans", Photochem. Photobiol. Sci., 17 (2018) 81.
      DOI:10.1039/C7PP00240H
S-layer_18
    • C. Slavov, C. Yang, L. Schweighauser, H. A. Wegner, A. Dreuw, J. Wachtveitl, "Ultrafast excited-state deactivation dynamics of Cyclotrisazobenzene - a novel type of UV-B absorber", ChemPhysChem, 18 (2017) 2137.
      DOI:10.1002/cphc.201700384
CTA
    • M. Pescher, L. van Wilderen, S. Gruetzner, C. Slavov, J. Wachtveitl, S. Hecht, J. Bredenbeck, "Ultrafast light-driven substrate expulsion from the active site of a photoswitchable catalyst", Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 56 (2017) 12092.
      DOI:10.1002/anie.201702861
Azocat
    • C. Slavov, C. Yang, L. Schweighauser, C. Boumrifak, A. Dreuw, H. A. Wegner, Josef Wachtveitl, "Connectivity matters - Ultrafast isomerization dynamics of bisazobenzene photoswitches", Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 18 (2016) 14795, (Cover Article).
      DOI:10.1039/c6cp00603e
Qplex
    • C. Slavov, C. Boumrifak, C. A. Hammer, P. Trojanowski, X. Chen, W. J. Lees, J. Wachtveitl, and M. Braun, "The ultrafast reactions in the photochromic cycle of water-soluble fulgimide photoswitches", Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 18 (2016) 10289.
      DOI:10.1039/c5cp06866e
Qplex
    • C. Slavov, V. Schrameyer, M. Reus, P.J. Ralph, R. Hill, C. Büchel, A.W.D. Larkum, A.R. Holzwarth, "Super-quenching" state protects Symbiodinium from thermal stress - implications for coral bleaching", Biochim. Biophys. Acta, Bioenerg. 1857 (2016) 840.
      DOI:10.1016/j.bbabio.2016.02.002
Symbiodinium
    • J. Thevarpadam, I. Bessi, O. Binas, D. P. N. Gonçalves, C. Slavov, H. R. A. Jonker, C. Richter, J. Wachtveitl, H. Schwalbe, A. Heckel, "Photoresponsive Formation of an Intermolecular Minimal G-Quadruplex Motif", Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 55 (2016) 2738.
      DOI:10.1002/anie.201510269
      DOI:10.2210/pdb2n9q/pdb
Qplex
    • D. Farci, C. Slavov, E. Tramontano and D. Piano, "The S-layer protein DR_2577 binds deinoxanthin and under desiccation conditions protects against UV-radiation in Deinococcus radiodurans", Front. Microbiol., 7 (2016) 155.
      DOI:10.3389/fmicb.2016.00155
    • C. Slavov, N. Bellakbil, J. Wahl, K. Mayer, K. Rück-Braun, I. Burghardt, J. Wachtveitl, M. Braun, "Ultrafast coherent oscillations reveal a reactive mode in the ring-opening reaction of fulgides", Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 17 (2015) 14045.
      DOI:10.1039/C5CP01878A
indolylfulgide
    • C. Slavov, X. Xu, K.-h. Zhao, W. Gärtner, J. Wachtveitl, "Detailed insight into the ultrafast photoconversion of the cyanobacteriochrome Slr1393 from Synechocystis sp", Biochim. Biophys. Acta, Bioenerg., 1847 (2015) 1335.
      DOI:10.1016/j.bbabio.2015.07.013
CBCR
    • C. Slavov*, H. Hartmann, J. Wachtveitl, "Implementation and Evaluation of Data Analysis Strategies for Time-Resolved Optical Spectroscopy", Anal. Chem., 87 (2015) 2328.
      DOI:10.1021/ac504348h
LDA
    • D. Chatterjee, C.E. Eckert, C. Slavov, K. Saxena, B. Fürtig, C.R. Sanders, V.V. Gurevich, J. Wachtveitl, H. Schwalbe, "Influence of arrestin on the photodecay of bovine rhodopsin", Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 54, (2015) 13555.
      DOI:10.1002/anie.201505798
rhodopsin
    • P. Trojanowski, J. Plötner, C. Grünewald, F.F. Graupner, C. Slavov, A.J. Reuss, M. Braun, J.W. Engels, J. Wachtveitl, "Photo-physical properties of 2-(1-ethynylpyrene)-adenosine: influence of hydrogen bonding on excited state properties", Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 16 (2014) 13875.
      DOI:10.1039/C4CP01148A
2Pyrene
    • C. Slavov, M. Reus, A.R. Holzwarth, "Two Different Mechanisms Cooperate In The Desiccation-Induced Excited State Quenching In Parmelia Lichen", J. Phys. Chem. B, 117 (2013) 11326.
      DOI:10.1021/jp402881f
lichens
    • M.G. Müller, C. Slavov, R. Luthra, K.E. Redding, A.R. Holzwarth, "Independent initiation of primary electron transfer in the two branches of the photosystem I reaction center", Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 107 (2010) 4123.
      DOI:10.1073/pnas.0905407107
PSI
    • C. Slavov, M. Mansurova, A.R. Holzwarth, W. Gärtner, "Excited State Processes in 1-Deazariboflavin Studied by Ultrafast Fluorescence Kinetics", Photochem. Photobiol., 86 (2010) 31.
      DOI:10.1111/j.1751-1097.2009.00646.x
    • C. Slavov, E. El-Mohsnawy, M. Rögner, A.R. Holzwarth, "Trapping kinetics in isolated cyanobacterial PS I complexes", Chem. Phys., 357 (2009) 163.
      DOI:10.1016/j.chemphys.2008.12.021
    • K. Mishev, D. Stefanov, K. Ananieva, C. Slavov, E.D. Ananiev, "Different effects of dark treatment on pigment composition and photosystem I and II activities in intact cotyledons and primary leaves of Cucurbita pepo (zucchini)", Plant Growth Regul., 58 (2009) 61.
      DOI:10.1007/s10725-008-9352-x
    • C. Slavov, M. Ballottari, T. Morosinotto, R. Bassi, A.R. Holzwarth, "Trap-Limited Charge Separation Kinetics in Higher Plant Photosystem I Complexes", Biophys. J., 94 (2008) 3601.
      DOI:10.1529/biophysj.107.117101
    • V. Doltchinkova, K. Georgieva, N. Traytcheva, C. Slavov, K. Mishev, "Melittin-induced changes in thylakoid membranes: particle electrophoresis and light scattering study", Biophys. Chem., 109 (2004) 387.
      DOI:10.1016/j.bpc.2003.10.030