Bringing Light to Transcription: The Optogenetics Repertoire

Frontiers in Genetics

Lorena de Mena¹  Patrick Rizk¹  Diego E. Rincon-Limas² 

[1] Department of Neurology, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States;Department of Neuroscience, Genetics Institute, Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States;

关键词: optogenetics;    phytochrome B;    cryptochrome;    LOV;    UVR8;    light;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fgene.2018.00518

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

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.

【 授权许可】

Unknown