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Optogenetic control of signaling in mammalian cells
Author(s) -
Beyer Hannes M.,
Naumann Sebastian,
Weber Wilfried,
Radziwill Gerald
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
biotechnology journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.144
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1860-7314
pISSN - 1860-6768
DOI - 10.1002/biot.201400077
Subject(s) - optogenetics , cryptochrome , microbiology and biotechnology , effector , signal transduction , phytochrome , second messenger system , biology , channelrhodopsin , phototropin , neuroscience , circadian clock , circadian rhythm , red light , botany
Molecular signals are sensed by their respective receptors and information is transmitted and processed by a sophisticated intracellular network controlling various biological functions. Optogenetic tools allow the targeting of specific signaling nodes for a precise spatiotemporal control of downstream effects. These tools are based on photoreceptors such as phytochrome B (PhyB), cryptochrome 2, or light–oxygen–voltage‐sensing domains that reversibly bind to specific interaction partners in a light‐dependent manner. Fusions of a protein of interest to the photoreceptor or their interaction partners may enable the control of the protein function by light‐mediated dimerization, a change of subcellular localization, or due to photocaging/‐uncaging of effectors. In this review, we summarize the photoreceptors and the light‐based mechanisms utilized for the modulation of signaling events in mammalian cells focusing on non‐neuronal applications. We discuss in detail optogenetic tools and approaches applied to control signaling events mediated by second messengers, Rho GTPases and growth factor‐triggered signaling cascades namely the RAS/RAF and phosphatidylinositol‐3‐kinase pathways. Applying the latest generation of optogenetic tools allows to control cell fate decisions such as proliferation and differentiation or to deliver therapeutic substances in a spatiotemporally controlled manner.