Illuminating developmental biology with cellular optogenetics.

Publication Year
2018

Type

Journal Article
Abstract

In developmental biology, localization is everything. The same stimulus-cell signaling event or expression of a gene-can have dramatically different effects depending on the time, spatial position, and cell types in which it is applied. Yet the field has long lacked the ability to deliver localized perturbations with high specificity in vivo. The advent of optogenetic tools, capable of delivering highly localized stimuli, is thus poised to profoundly expand our understanding of development. We describe the current state-of-the-art in cellular optogenetic tools, review the first wave of major studies showcasing their application in vivo, and discuss major obstacles that must be overcome if the promise of developmental optogenetics is to be fully realized.

Journal
Curr Opin Biotechnol
Volume
52
Pages
42-48
Date Published
2018 Aug
ISSN Number
1879-0429
Alternate Journal
Curr Opin Biotechnol
PMCID
PMC6082700
PMID
29505976