title: Guidelines for Photoreceptor Engineering.
abstract: Sensory photoreceptors underpin optogenetics by mediating the noninvasive and reversible perturbation of living cells by light with unprecedented temporal and spatial resolution. Spurred by seminal optogenetic applications of natural photoreceptors, the engineering of photoreceptors has recently garnered wide interest and has led to the construction of a broad palette of novel light-regulated actuators. Photoreceptors are modularly built of photosensors that receive light signals, and of effectors that carry out specific cellular functions. These modules have to be precisely connected to allow efficient communication, such that light stimuli are relayed from photosensor to effector. The engineering of photoreceptors benefits from a thorough understanding of the underlying signaling mechanisms. This chapter gives a brief overview of key characteristics and signal-transduction mechanisms of sensory photoreceptors. Adaptation of these concepts in photoreceptor engineering has enabled the generation of novel optogenetic tools that greatly transcend the repertoire of natural photoreceptors.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Biologie, Biophysikalische Chemie, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.|Lehrstuhl für Biochemie, Universität Bayreuth, Universitätstraße 30, Bldg. NW III, 95440, Bayreuth, Germany.
authors.forename: Thea
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ziegler
authors.affiliation: Institut für Biologie, Biophysikalische Chemie, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Charlotte Helene
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Schumacher
authors.affiliation: Institut für Biologie, Biophysikalische Chemie, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany. andreas.moeglich@uni-bayreuth.de.|Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences, Lehrstuhl für Biochemie, Universität Bayreuth, Universitätstraße 30, Bldg. NW III, 95440, Bayreuth, Germany. andreas.moeglich@uni-bayreuth.de.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Möglich
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008027:Light; D062308:Optogenetics / Q000379:methods*; D020283:Photoreceptors, Microbial / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D055519:Photoreceptors, Plant / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010944:Plants / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015202:Protein Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D020283:Photoreceptors, Microbial; D055519:Photoreceptors, Plant; D011506:Proteins
keywords: Light; Optogenetics; Protein engineering; Sensory photoreceptor; Signal transduction