Light Controlled Mammalian System

Chemically controlled molecular switches have played a central role in the emergence of synthetic biology and have become a conventional tool for mammalian cell biology research. However, the inherent disadvantages of molecules, such as difficulty in removing inducers and diffusion-based transport, hinder rapid reversibility and spatially resolved activation. On the other hand, these limitations have recently been addressed through the development of optogenetics, gene coding and light response tools, which can be controlled with unprecedented optical spatio-temporal accuracy.

The first breakthrough in mammalian optogenetics was the discovery of microbial opsin and its subsequent introduction into neuroscience. This hairstyle completely changed the study of neural networks. Later, beyond neuroscience, scientists have developed more optogenetic tools to control a variety of signal transduction processes in mammalian cells.

Creative BioMart has established a complete platform of optogenetic tools designed to control the life processes of different mammalian cells.

Overview of currently available optogenetic tools for mammalian systems

Light	Photoreceptor	Interaction partner	Co-factor	Mechanism	Applications
UVB	UVR8 UVR8	-	-	Homodimerization	Protein secretion
	UVR8 UVR8	COP1	-	Heterodimerization	Nuclear import Gene expression Chromatin targeting
Violet/ blue	Dronpa	-	-	Homodimerization	Membrane recruitment/cell shape Proteolytic cleavage
Blue	LOV2 (from phototropin 1)	-	FMN	Uncaging of C-terminal fusions	Membrane recruitment/ Cell shape Tunable protein dimerization Nuclear import Protein degradation
	CRY2	CIB1	FAD	Heterodimerization	Membrane recruitment Gene expression Histone modification Kinase activation Phosphoinositide metabolism Reversible protein inactivation
	CRY2	-		Oligomerization	Signaling modulation Kinase activation
	EL222	-	FMN	Homodimerization	Gene expression
	FKF1	GI	FMN	Heterodimerization	Membrane recruitment/cell shape Gene expression
	Melanopsin	-	11-cisretinal	Ca²⁺ influx	Gene expression
	PAC	-	FAD	cAMP synthesis	Signaling modulation
	VVD	-	FMN	Homodimerization	Gene expression
Red/ far red	PhyB	PIF6	Phycocyanobilin	Heterodimerization	Membrane recruitment/cell shape Signaling modulation Gene expression

Why Select Optogenetic Tools for your Mammalian Cell Operation

Timing

Photogenetics provides a high temporal resolution because receptors can be simply turned on and off according to the presence or absence of light of the correct wavelength. This response is immediate, in milliseconds, and can accurately associate neuronal activation with behavior.

Targeted manipulation

Photogenetic tools can target their expression to specific tissues, cell types and even subcellular regions of neurons.

Control stimulation

Some studies rely on providing reversible or different amounts of stimulation to receptors. Optogenetics can better control these factors because light sources can be easily and quickly manipulated or turned off.

Invasiveness

Photogenetic tools need to be delivered to cells, usually through AAV viruses.