Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 7, 2026

Spatiotemporal Control of Protein Activity through Optogenetic Allosteric Regulation
Published on: October 4, 2024
Pharmacologically controlled protein switch for ON-OFF regulation of growth factor activity
Maria Karlsson1, Balder Rebmann, Philipp S Lienemann
11] Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestrasse 1, 79104 Freiburg, Germany [2] Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, Mattenstrasse 26, 4058 Basel, Switzerland.
Abstract:
The precise manipulation of growth factor signaling is central to the progress of tissue engineering. Methods for direct time-resolved activation of signaling pathways through controlled receptor dimerization have been reported; however, these suffer from the risks associated with gene transfer. Here we present an alternative gene transfer-free approach in the form of a protein switch featuring pharmacologically controlled ON-OFF regulation of growth factor activity. The reversible operation of the switch enables stimulation of target processes within a defined period of time. The protein switch provides a means for both studying and manipulating signaling processes, and is thus believed to be a valuable tool for basic research as well as tissue engineering and biomedical applications.
More Related Videos
09:32Light-mediated Reversible Modulation of the Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase Pathway during Cell Differentiation and Xenopus Embryonic Development
Published on: June 15, 2017
09:22Rapid Synthesis and Screening of Chemically Activated Transcription Factors with GFP-based Reporters
Published on: November 26, 2013
Related Concept Videos
TGF - β Signaling Pathway
Amplifying Signals via Enzymatic Cascade
Activation and Inactivation of G Proteins
Transducer Mechanism: Enzyme-Linked Receptors
Major types that are helpful drug targets include:
GPCRs Regulate Adenylyl Cylase Activity
Two...
Small GTPases - Ras and Rho
Three regulatory proteins control their activity: