Optical Control of Protein Activity by Fluorescent Protein Domains

Optogenetic Control Fluorescent proteins are widely used as optical sensors; however, optical control of protein activity remains challenging. Zhou et al. (p. 810 ) describe an approach that allows both sensing and control. Domains of the fluorescent protein Dronpa were designed to dimerize with one another and were fused to each of the termini of an enzyme domain. In the dark, the domains dimerized and inhibited the enzyme. However, exposure to light induced Dronpa dissociation and activated the enzyme, allowing optogenetic control.