4.3 Article

Optogenetic toolkit for precise control of calcium signaling

Journal

CELL CALCIUM
Volume 64, Issue -, Pages 36-46

Publisher

ELSEVIER SCI LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.ceca.2017.01.004

Keywords

Optogenetics; Calcium signaling; Genetically-encoded calcium actuator (GECA); LOV2; Cryptochrome; Calcium release-activated calcium (CRAC) channel

Categories

Funding

  1. Leukemia & Lymphoma Society [LLS3013-12]
  2. National Natural Science foundation of China [NSFC-31471279]
  3. Recruitment Program for Young Professionals of China
  4. Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University [NCET-13-0061]
  5. Welch Foundation [BE-1913]
  6. American Cancer Society [RSG-16-215-01-TBE]
  7. National Institutes of Health [R01GM112003]

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Calcium acts as a second messenger to regulate a myriad of cell functions, ranging from short-term muscle contraction and cell motility to long-term changes in gene expression and metabolism. To study the impact of Ca2+-modulated 'ON' and 'OFF' reactions in mammalian cells, pharmacological tools and 'caged' compounds are commonly used under various experimental conditions. The use of these reagents for precise control of Ca2+ signals, nonetheless, is impeded by lack of reversibility and specificity. The recently developed optogenetic tools, particularly those built upon engineered Ca2+ release-activated Ca2+ (CRAC) channels, provide exciting opportunities to remotely and non-invasively modulate Ca2+ signaling due to their superior spatiotemporal resolution and rapid reversibility. In this review, we briefly summarize the latest advances.in the development of optogenetic tools (collectively termed as 'genetically encoded Ca2+ actuators', or GECAs) that are tailored for the interrogation of Ca2+ signaling, as well as their applications in remote neuromodulation and optogenetic immunomodulation. Our goal is to provide a general guide to choosing appropriate GECAs for optical control of Ca2+ signaling in cellulo, and in parallel, to stimulate further thoughts on evolving non-opsin-based optogenetics into a fully fledged technology for the study of Ca2+-dependent activities in vivo. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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