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AssigneeThe Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
InventorsRicardo E. Dolmetsch, Masayuki Yazawa
Estimating the term…
Compositions and methods for light controlled protein-protein interactions in a living cell. Two interacting PICL (protein interaction controlled by light) polypeptides are provided. The first polypeptide comprises an LOV (Light, Oxygen or Voltage) domain, which domain is a light sensor that uses flavin mononucleotide (FMN) as a chromophore. The second polypeptide, specifically interacts with the L polypeptide upon light activation of the LOV domain. One or both of the polypeptides are fused to a cellular protein of interest. Upon exposure to light, a targeted interaction between cellular proteins occurs. The ability to regulate protein-protein interactions with subcellular resolution using light is useful for controlling biochemical processes such transcription, receptor activation, protein degradation, synapse formation, etc. in cells and animals.
A method for light controlled protein interaction in a cell, the method comprising:
A genetic construct comprising an expression vector encoding an L polypeptide which comprises the interacting domain sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:3 and having at least one amino acid modification to reduce basal levels of interaction without substantially reducing light induced interaction.
A genetic construct comprising an expression vector encoding an I polypeptide which comprises the interacting domain sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:6.
A method of screening an agent for its effect on a cellular process involving a protein interaction, the method comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.