title: Subcellular optogenetics - controlling signaling and single-cell behavior.
abstract: Variation in signaling activity across a cell plays a crucial role in processes such as cell migration. Signaling activity specific to organelles within a cell also likely plays a key role in regulating cellular functions. To understand how such spatially confined signaling within a cell regulates cell behavior, tools that exert experimental control over subcellular signaling activity are required. Here, we discuss the advantages of using optogenetic approaches to achieve this control. We focus on a set of optical triggers that allow subcellular control over signaling through the activation of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), receptor tyrosine kinases and downstream signaling proteins, as well as those that inhibit endogenous signaling proteins. We also discuss the specific insights with regard to signaling and cell behavior that these subcellular optogenetic approaches can provide.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43606, USA.
authors.forename: W K Ajith
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Karunarathne
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63110, USA.
authors.forename: Patrick R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: O'Neill
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63110, USA Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63110, USA gautam@wustl.edu.
authors.forename: Narasimhan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gautam
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
keywords: Optogenetics; Subcellular signaling