Optogenetic manipulation and photoacoustic imaging using a near-infrared transgenic mouse model

Optogenetic manipulation and optical imaging in the near-infrared range allow non-invasive light-control and readout of cellular and organismal processes in deep tissues in vivo. Here, we exploit the advantages of Rhodopseudomonas palustris BphP1 bacterial phytochrome, which incorporates biliverdin chromophore and reversibly photoswitches between the ground (740-800 nm) and activated (620-680 nm) states, to generate a loxP-BphP1 transgenic mouse model. The mouse enables Cre-dependent temporal and spatial targeting of BphP1 expression in vivo. We validate the optogenetic performance of endogenous BphP1, which in the activated state binds its engineered protein partner QPAS1, to trigger gene transcription in primary cells and living mice. We demonstrate photoacoustic tomography of BphP1 expression in different organs, developing embryos, virus-infected tissues and regenerating livers, with the centimeter penetration depth. The transgenic mouse model provides opportunities for both near-infrared optogenetics and photoacoustic imaging in vivo and serves as a source of primary cells and tissues with genomically encoded BphP1. Optogenetic tools can be used as in vivo imaging probes. Here the authors generate a loxP-BphP1 transgenic mouse to enable Cre-dependent temporal and spatial targeting of BphP1 expression in vivo; they show photoacoustic tomography of BphP1 expression in developing embryos and regenerating livers.

Automated summary

In this study, the authors successfully achieved optogenetic manipulation and optical imaging using a transgenic mouse model, which enables non-invasive observation and control of cellular and organismal processes in deep tissues using near-infrared light.