A Light-Oxygen-Voltage Receptor Integrates Light and Temperature.
Julia Dietler1, Roman Schubert2, Tobias G A Krafft1
1Department of Biochemistry, University of Bayreuth, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany.
Journal of Molecular Biology
|June 19, 2021
Summary
Researchers engineered light-oxygen-voltage (LOV) modules to control gene expression in optogenetics. They discovered a LOV module that also senses temperature, enabling novel applications in biotechnology and cellular circuits.
Area of Science:
- Optogenetics and Molecular Biology
- Biotechnology and Synthetic Biology
Background:
- Sensory photoreceptors regulate physiological and developmental responses to light.
- Optogenetics utilizes photoreceptors as genetically encoded actuators to control cellular processes, including gene expression.
- Light-oxygen-voltage (LOV) modules are commonly used in optogenetics for light-inducible control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To control the Tet repressor using LOV modules for light-mediated modulation of gene expression.
- To investigate the temperature sensitivity of the RsLOV module from Rhodobacter sphaeroides.
- To enhance the light-responsive properties of RsLOV variants for improved optogenetic applications.
Main Methods:
- Coupling of Tet repressor to LOV modules that undergo light-induced homodimerization or dissociation.
- Modulation of protein expression by controlling LOV module activity with blue light.
- Characterization of wild-type and variant RsLOV modules, including their photochemistry, structure, and temperature response.
Main Results:
- Light-controlled modulation of Tet repressor activity and subsequent protein expression was achieved.
- The RsLOV module exhibited intrinsic temperature sensitivity alongside its light response.
- Two variants of RsLOV showed enhanced light responses at 37°C, with one variant improving homodimerization affinity and conferring light sensitivity to a receptor tyrosine kinase.
Conclusions:
- Photoreceptors like RsLOV can function as both light and temperature sensors, impacting their use in optogenetics.
- Engineered RsLOV variants offer improved light sensitivity and dual-sensing capabilities.
- The temperature sensitivity of LOV modules can be leveraged for constructing sophisticated signal-responsive cellular circuits.
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