Dual-controlled optogenetic system for the rapid down-regulation of protein levels in mammalian cells
Baaske J, Gonschorek P, Engesser R, Dominguez-Monedero A, Raute K, Fischbach P, Müller K, Cachat E, Schamel WWA, Minguet S, Davies JA, Timmer J, Weber W, Zurbriggen MD.
Sci Rep. 2018;8(1):15024.
Here, we present a two-component, blue light-responsive optogenetic OFF switch ('Blue-OFF'), which enables a rapid and quantitative down-regulation of a protein upon illumination. Blue-OFF combines the first light responsive repressor KRAB-EL222 with the protein degradation module B-LID to simultaneously control gene expression and protein stability with a single wavelength. The system is described by a mathematical model which aids in the choice of experimental conditions such as light intensity and illumination regime to obtain the desired outcome.
