Engineering Light-Control in Biology

Abstract

Unraveling the transformative power of optogenetics in biology requires sophisticated engineering for the creation and optimization of light-regulatable proteins. In addition, diverse strategies have been used for the tuning of these light-sensitive regulators. This review highlights different protein engineering and synthetic biology approaches, which might aid in the development and optimization of novel optogenetic proteins (Opto-proteins). Focusing on non-neuronal optogenetics, chromophore availability, general strategies for creating light-controllable functions, modification of the photosensitive domains and their fusion to effector domains, as well as tuning concepts for Opto-proteins are discussed. Thus, this review shall not serve as an encyclopedic summary of light-sensitive regulators but aims at discussing important aspects for the engineering of light-controllable proteins through selected examples.

Red light activatable chemo-optogenetic dimerization regulates cell apoptosis

“…After examining known CID and CIP molecules [18,19], we realized that (+)abscisic acid (ABA) appears to be the idealist candidate. ABA is a plant hormone that binds with the PYL protein to form a complex and subsequently recognizes ABI domain [9]. As a dimerizer, ABA is small, readily cell permeable, orthogonal to mammalian cell systems, and induces the heterodimerization between PYL and ABI with a high dynamic range.…”

“…Chemical biologists have adopted chemo-optogenetics, known as a 'chemistry' version of optogenetics, to regulate various cellular functions [3][4][5][6][7][8]. Unlike optogenetics, which utilizes genetically encoded photoreceptors [9] or light-sensitive ion channels [10], chemo-optogenetic tools, such as photoactivatable chemical inducers of dimerization (pCIDs), employ genetically engineered protein tags that specifically accept light-sensitive small molecules [2,11].…”