Optogenetic Tools for Spatiotemporal Interrogation of Cytoskeletal Dynamics

The cytoskeleton is a dynamic intracellular network that governs cell shape, migration, division, and mechanotransduction. Precise spatiotemporal control of cytoskeletal regulation is essential for understanding how these processes are coordinated in physiology and disease, yet conventional pharmacological and genetic approaches often lack sufficient resolution or reversibility. Optogenetic technologies provide a powerful alternative by enabling light-controlled, noninvasive manipulation of cytoskeletal regulators with high temporal precision and subcellular specificity. This review summarizes recent advances in genetically encoded optogenetic tools for interrogating cytoskeletal dynamics. We discuss core design strategies, including allosteric regulation, light-induced oligomerization, heterodimerization, and dissociation, and highlight representative applications targeting actin filaments, microtubules, and upstream signaling pathways such as Rho family GTPases. We conclude by outlining current limitations and emerging directions, including improved tissue penetration, reduced phototoxicity, and multiplexed optical control, which are expected to further expand the utility of optogenetics in cytoskeleton research.