Disclosed is a mussel adhesive protein including at least one photocaged 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine derivative residue including a protecting group on at least one hydroxyl residue of its catechol moiety. The photocaged 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine derivative residue replaces a naturally occurring amino acid and the protecting group can be cleaved from the 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine derivative residue by irradiation with UV light.