Abstract
The ability to manipulate expression of exogenous genes in particular regions of living organisms has profoundly transformed the way we study biomolecular processes involved in both normal development and disease. Unfortunately, most of the classical inducible systems lack fine spatial and temporal accuracy, thereby limiting the study of molecular events that strongly depend on time, duration of activation, or cellular localization. By exploiting genetically engineered photo sensing proteins that respond to specific wavelengths, we can now provide acute control of numerous molecular activities with unprecedented precision. In this review, we present a comprehensive breakdown of all of the current optogenetic systems adapted to regulate gene expression in both unicellular and multicellular organisms. We focus on the advantages and disadvantages of these different tools and discuss current and future challenges in the successful translation to more complex organisms.
Highlights
The ability to artificially trigger gene transcription using external stimuli allows for the control of the synthesis of proteins involved in a variety of cellular processes such as cell proliferation, differentiation and death
A combination of the import switch LANS with LexA-DNA-binding domain (DBD) and Gal4AD led to a 21-fold change in β-galactosidase expression in yeast, demonstrating LANS capability to control the activity of a transcription factors (TF)
Creation and implementation of optogenetic tools over the past several years has changed the way we think about regulation of gene expression and protein activity
Summary
The ability to artificially trigger gene transcription using external stimuli allows for the control of the synthesis of proteins involved in a variety of cellular processes such as cell proliferation, differentiation and death. Upon addition of tissue-specific sequences, such systems allowed manipulation of exogenous genes in particular regions of living organisms (Fischer et al, 1988; Byrne and Ruddle, 1989; Yarranton, 1992; Brand and Perrimon, 1993; Sun et al, 2007). Still, these tools were limited to permanent gene activation. In an attempt to attain temporal control, further techniques exploited the use of small chemical compounds that targeted particular chemical sensors or engineered proteins (Picard et al, 1988; Tanguay, 1988; Gossen and Bujard, 1992; No et al, 1996; Osterwalder et al, 2001) These methods proved to be instrumental in explaining a great variety of cellular networks and processes. We will focus on the advantages and disadvantages of the different tools described in the literature and will discuss current and future challenges encountered in their translation to living organisms
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