Optogenetic storage and release of protein and mRNA in live cells and animals
Abstract Cells compartmentalize biomolecules in membraneless structures called biomolecular condensates. While their roles in regulating cellular processes are increasingly understood, tools for their synthetic manipulation remain limited. Here, we introduce RELISR (Reversible Light-Induced Store an...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2025-07-01
|
| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61322-y |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849234776491294720 |
|---|---|
| author | Chaeyeon Lee Jeonghye Yu Jongpil Shin Jihwan Yu Yungyeong Heo Moosung Lee Daseuli Yu YongKeun Park Won Do Heo |
| author_facet | Chaeyeon Lee Jeonghye Yu Jongpil Shin Jihwan Yu Yungyeong Heo Moosung Lee Daseuli Yu YongKeun Park Won Do Heo |
| author_sort | Chaeyeon Lee |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Cells compartmentalize biomolecules in membraneless structures called biomolecular condensates. While their roles in regulating cellular processes are increasingly understood, tools for their synthetic manipulation remain limited. Here, we introduce RELISR (Reversible Light-Induced Store and Release), an optogenetic condensate system that enables reversible storage and release of proteins or mRNAs. RELISR integrates multivalent scaffolds, optogenetic switches, and cargo-binding domains to trap cargo in the dark and release it upon blue-light exposure. We demonstrate its utility in primary neurons and show that light-triggered release of signaling proteins can modulate fibroblast morphology. Furthermore, light-induced release of cargo mRNA results in protein translation both in vitro and in live mice. RELISR thus provides a versatile platform for spatiotemporal control of protein activity and mRNA translation in complex biological systems, with broad potential for research and therapeutic applications. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-82b5b375ceb54d5181cdf857b8a1d443 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-82b5b375ceb54d5181cdf857b8a1d4432025-08-20T04:03:01ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-07-0116111410.1038/s41467-025-61322-yOptogenetic storage and release of protein and mRNA in live cells and animalsChaeyeon Lee0Jeonghye Yu1Jongpil Shin2Jihwan Yu3Yungyeong Heo4Moosung Lee5Daseuli Yu6YongKeun Park7Won Do Heo8Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)Department of Physics, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)Life Science Research Institute, KAISTDepartment of Physics, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)Abstract Cells compartmentalize biomolecules in membraneless structures called biomolecular condensates. While their roles in regulating cellular processes are increasingly understood, tools for their synthetic manipulation remain limited. Here, we introduce RELISR (Reversible Light-Induced Store and Release), an optogenetic condensate system that enables reversible storage and release of proteins or mRNAs. RELISR integrates multivalent scaffolds, optogenetic switches, and cargo-binding domains to trap cargo in the dark and release it upon blue-light exposure. We demonstrate its utility in primary neurons and show that light-triggered release of signaling proteins can modulate fibroblast morphology. Furthermore, light-induced release of cargo mRNA results in protein translation both in vitro and in live mice. RELISR thus provides a versatile platform for spatiotemporal control of protein activity and mRNA translation in complex biological systems, with broad potential for research and therapeutic applications.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61322-y |
| spellingShingle | Chaeyeon Lee Jeonghye Yu Jongpil Shin Jihwan Yu Yungyeong Heo Moosung Lee Daseuli Yu YongKeun Park Won Do Heo Optogenetic storage and release of protein and mRNA in live cells and animals Nature Communications |
| title | Optogenetic storage and release of protein and mRNA in live cells and animals |
| title_full | Optogenetic storage and release of protein and mRNA in live cells and animals |
| title_fullStr | Optogenetic storage and release of protein and mRNA in live cells and animals |
| title_full_unstemmed | Optogenetic storage and release of protein and mRNA in live cells and animals |
| title_short | Optogenetic storage and release of protein and mRNA in live cells and animals |
| title_sort | optogenetic storage and release of protein and mrna in live cells and animals |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61322-y |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT chaeyeonlee optogeneticstorageandreleaseofproteinandmrnainlivecellsandanimals AT jeonghyeyu optogeneticstorageandreleaseofproteinandmrnainlivecellsandanimals AT jongpilshin optogeneticstorageandreleaseofproteinandmrnainlivecellsandanimals AT jihwanyu optogeneticstorageandreleaseofproteinandmrnainlivecellsandanimals AT yungyeongheo optogeneticstorageandreleaseofproteinandmrnainlivecellsandanimals AT moosunglee optogeneticstorageandreleaseofproteinandmrnainlivecellsandanimals AT daseuliyu optogeneticstorageandreleaseofproteinandmrnainlivecellsandanimals AT yongkeunpark optogeneticstorageandreleaseofproteinandmrnainlivecellsandanimals AT wondoheo optogeneticstorageandreleaseofproteinandmrnainlivecellsandanimals |