An optogenetic toolkit for robust activation of FGF, BMP, & Nodal signaling in zebrafish.

ABSTRACT: Cell signaling regulates a wide range of biological processes including development, homeostasis, and disease. Accessible technologies to precisely manipulate signaling have important applications in basic and translational research. Here, we introduce an optogenetic toolkit comprised of 1) a zebrafish-optimized FGF signaling activator, 2) a single-transcript Nodal signaling activator, and 3) a previously established BMP signaling activator. We thoroughly characterize this suite of tools in zebrafish embryos and show that they provide tunable, light-dependent spatiotemporal control of signaling in vivo. In response to blue light (~455 nm), receptor kinase domains fused to blue light-dimerizing LOV domains enable robust signaling activation with minimal ectopic activity in the dark o

SUBMITTER: Iannucci LE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12190770 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature