Optogenetic Control of Gene Expression in Drosophila

To study the molecular mechanism of complex biological systems, it is important to be able to artificially manipulate gene expression in desired target sites with high precision. Based on the light dependent binding of cryptochrome 2 and a cryptochrome interacting bHLH protein, we developed a split...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:PloS one 2015-09, Vol.10 (9), p.e0138181-e0138181
Main Authors: Chan, Yick-Bun, Alekseyenko, Olga V, Kravitz, Edward A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Amino acids
Animal development
Animals
Animals, Genetically Modified
Cell culture
Cells, Cultured
Cloning
Cryptochromes - genetics
Cryptochromes - metabolism
Deoxyribonucleic acid
Developmental stages
DNA
Drosophila
Drosophila melanogaster
Drosophila melanogaster - genetics
Drosophila melanogaster - radiation effects
Drosophila Proteins - genetics
Drosophila Proteins - metabolism
Embryo, Nonmammalian
Embryos
Excitation
Gene expression
Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental - radiation effects
Genetic aspects
Genetics
Green Fluorescent Proteins - genetics
Green Fluorescent Proteins - metabolism
Insects
Light
Medical research
Nervous system
Neurobiology
Neurons - metabolism
Neurosciences
Optogenetics
Physiological aspects
Proteins
Transcription activation
Transcription factors
Transcriptional Activation - radiation effects
Transgenes - radiation effects
Zebrafish
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Summary:To study the molecular mechanism of complex biological systems, it is important to be able to artificially manipulate gene expression in desired target sites with high precision. Based on the light dependent binding of cryptochrome 2 and a cryptochrome interacting bHLH protein, we developed a split lexA transcriptional activation system for use in Drosophila that allows regulation of gene expression in vivo using blue light or two-photon excitation. We show that this system offers high spatiotemporal resolution by inducing gene expression in tissues at various developmental stages. In combination with two-photon excitation, gene expression can be manipulated at precise sites in embryos, potentially offering an important tool with which to examine developmental processes.
ISSN:1932-6203
1932-6203
DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0138181