Manipulating Intracellular Signal Transduction Using Optogenetic Technology

New Insights into the Frequency-Selective Transcription Factor Dynamics in Cells

A research team led by Dr. Tetsuya Muramoto from the Faculty of Science at Toho University has demonstrated the mechanisms by which periodic chemical signal frequencies in cells regulate gene expression via transcription factors and influence the cell fate determination processes. This groundbreaking revelation was made using optogenetic technology, which facilitates the manipulation of biological phenomena using light. Their findings were recently published in the Development journal on January 14, 2025.

Right side of the photo: Dr. Tetsuya Muramoto

Key Points:

The study revealed the mechanisms by which periodic intracellular cAMP signal frequencies regulate transcription factor shuttling between the nucleus and cytoplasm and multicellular structure formation.
The researchers successfully detected and monitored cAMP using optogenetic technology combined with biosensors, which facilitated the precise real-time analysis of cellular responses.
The study findings highlight the significance of frequency-selective cellular responses in developmental biology, providing valuable insights into the intercellular signal transduction mechanisms.

Journal:
Development (January 14, 2025)

Article Title:
Optogenetic Control of cAMP Oscillations Reveals Frequency-Selective Transcription Factor Dynamics in Dictyostelium

Authors:
Kensuke Yamashita, Kazuya Shimane, Tetsuya Muramoto*

DOI:
10.1242/dev.204403

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