Flavin mononucleotide regulated photochemical isomerization and degradation of zeatin

cis-Zeatin (cZ), a cytokinin often overlooked compared to trans-zeatin (tZ), can now be controlled in live cells and plants through a new biocompatible reaction. Using flavin photosensitizers, cZ can be isomerized to tZ or degraded, depending on the presence of a reducing reagent. This breakthrough offers a novel approach for regulating plant growth through chemical molecules. In this work we present a novel biocompatible photochemical reaction based on flavin photosensitizers, which could selectively regulate cis-zeatin (cZ) through isomerization or degradation in living cells and rice.