Blue-light tools let researchers track, redirect and sever cells' transport routes
Light is fundamental to human life—without it, we'd be hungry, cold and blind. But what if the same light that sustains us could also be used to control and observe parts of cells within our bodies?
Research from the Texas A&M Health Institute of Biosciences and Technology has led to the development of a groundbreaking tool that harnesses light to manipulate proteins and microtubules within cells. Led by Yubin Zhou and Yun Huang, this research could revolutionize the study of complex diseases such as cancer and dementia. Microtubules, tiny structures within cells, form microscopic highways that carry cargo and coordinate cellular functions.
Disruptions in these transport routes can lead to serious health consequences. Traditional methods for studying microtubules have been limited and often cause damage to the cells being observed. This new blue-light activated tool allows researchers to visualize cargo along microtubule paths, monitor the construction of microtubules in real time, redirect cargo movement, and even cut microtubules with precision.
The tool uses CRY2, a light-sensitive protein, which when exposed to blue light, activates four different tools: OptoMT, OptoTIP, OptoMotor, and OptoSAW. These tools provide unprecedented control over microtubules without causing long-term harm to the cells. The team hopes to adapt these tools for gene therapy studies, potentially aiding in the treatment of diseases like Alzheimer's and cancer.
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