Spatiotemporal control of gene expression by a light-switchable transgene system

Spatiotemporal control of gene expression by a light-switchable transgene system:

Spatiotemporal control of gene expression by a light-switchable transgene system

Nature Methods 9, 266 (2012).
doi:10.1038/nmeth.1892

Authors: Xue Wang, Xianjun Chen & Yi Yang

We developed a light-switchable transgene system based on a synthetic, genetically encoded light-switchable transactivator. The transactivator binds promoters upon blue-light exposure and rapidly initiates transcription of target transgenes in mammalian cells and in mice. This transgene system provides a robust and convenient way to spatiotemporally control gene expression and can be used to manipulate many biological processes in living systems with minimal perturbation.