Inducing intermediate filament disassembly

Abstract

Methods and kits are provided for inducing disassembly of intermediate filaments (IFs) in cells or tissues. In some embodiments, a method comprises expressing in, or introducing into, a cell or tissue a fusion protein comprising a self-labeling protein derived from a haloalkane dehalogenase and an IF-targeting protein that either incorporates into IF polymers or binds specifically to IF proteins; administering a rhodamine- or fluorescein-derived photosensitizer modified with a ligand that specifically binds to the self-labeling protein to associate the photosensitizer with the IF; and administering light under conditions effective to activate the photosensitizer and induce IF disassembly. Kits are also provided that comprise at least one vector encoding a fusion protein comprising a self-labeling protein derived from a haloalkane dehalogenase and an IF-targeting protein, and a rhodamine- or fluorescein-derived photosensitizer modified with a ligand that specifically binds to the self-labeling protein.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.