Light-based feedback for controlling intracellular signaling dynamics.

Toettcher, Jared E; Gong, Delquin; Lim, Wendell A; Weiner, Orion D · Nat Methods · 2011

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

The ability to apply precise inputs to signaling species in live cells would be transformative for interrogating and understanding complex cell-signaling systems. Here we report an 'optogenetic' method for applying custom signaling inputs using feedback control of a light-gated protein-protein interaction. We applied this strategy to perturb protein localization and phosphoinositide 3-kinase activity, generating time-varying signals and clamping signals to buffer against cell-to-cell variability or changes in pathway activity.

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