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Design and Implementation of an Automated Illuminating, Culturing, and Sampling System for Microbial Optogenetic Applications
Published on: February 19, 2017
Dual-channel optogenetics in yeast for multiplexed light-based control of cellular processes and pathways
Linus Yu Han Tan1,2, Zhangyuan Lin1,2, Jing Wui Yeoh1,2,3
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Design and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
Nature Communications
|May 22, 2026
Summary
Researchers developed a novel red light optogenetic system for yeast (S. cerevisiae), enabling dual-color control for advanced synthetic biology applications and living materials.
Area of Science:
- Synthetic Biology
- Optogenetics
- Metabolic Engineering
Background:
- Optogenetics, using light to control cellular functions, is valuable in physiology, biomaterials, and metabolic engineering.
- Multiplexing optogenetics with different light colors in S. cerevisiae is challenging due to gene number requirements and cross-activation issues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a compact, single-gene, cofactor-independent red light optogenetic system for S. cerevisiae.
- To engineer modular protein domains to minimize blue light cross-activation.
- To establish dual-channel optogenetics in S. cerevisiae by integrating the red light system with existing blue light systems.
Main Methods:
- Development of a novel red light responsive optogenetic system.
- Engineering of modular protein domains to reduce cross-activation.
- Integration with the EL222 blue light optogenetic system for dual-channel control.
- Demonstration of light-based control for flavonoid synthesis and flocculation.
- Creation of dual-colored optogenetic patterns in S. cerevisiae for living materials.
Main Results:
- A compact red light optogenetic system for S. cerevisiae requiring only one gene and no exogenous cofactors was successfully developed.
- Engineered modular protein domains effectively reduced cross-activation by blue light.
- Dual-channel optogenetics was established in S. cerevisiae, enabling light-based control of luteolin synthesis and flocculation.
- Dual-colored optogenetic patterns were generated, showcasing potential for living materials.
Conclusions:
- This work successfully expands optogenetic applications in S. cerevisiae from single-light to multi-light systems.
- The developed red light system, when combined with blue light systems, allows for dynamic and orthogonal control of separate cellular processes.
- This advancement holds significant potential for multiplexing different light colors in S. cerevisiae for complex synthetic biology applications.
