Source 1primary paper2016Current Protocols in Chemical Biology
Toolkit/light-inducible nuclear localization signal
light-inducible nuclear localization signal
Also known as: light-inducible nuclear localization signals, LINuS
Taxonomy: Mechanism Branch / Component. Workflows sit above the mechanism and technique branches rather than replacing them.
Summary
LINuS is a small genetically encoded protein domain for optogenetic control of subcellular localization. When fused to a protein of interest at either the N terminus or C terminus, it reversibly drives nuclear import in response to blue light.
Usefulness & Problems
Why this is useful
LINuS enables light-dependent control of nuclear localization using a compact genetically encoded fusion domain. This is useful for experiments requiring reversible, noninvasive temporal control of protein access to the nucleus.
Problem solved
LINuS addresses the problem of controlling nuclear import of a chosen protein of interest with external precision. The supplied evidence supports blue-light-triggered, reversible nuclear import through a fusion-compatible domain architecture.
Problem links
Need inducible protein relocalization or recruitment
DerivedLINuS is a small genetically encoded protein domain for optogenetic control of subcellular localization. When fused to a protein of interest at either the N terminus or C terminus, it reversibly drives nuclear import in response to blue light.
Need precise spatiotemporal control with light input
DerivedLINuS is a small genetically encoded protein domain for optogenetic control of subcellular localization. When fused to a protein of interest at either the N terminus or C terminus, it reversibly drives nuclear import in response to blue light.
Taxonomy & Function
Primary hierarchy
Mechanism Branch
Component: A low-level protein part used inside a larger architecture that realizes a mechanism.
Mechanisms
light-induced nuclear importlight-induced nuclear importreversible photoswitchingreversible photoswitchingTechniques
No technique tags yet.
Target processes
localizationInput: Light
Implementation Constraints
cofactor dependency: cofactor requirement unknownencoding mode: genetically encodedimplementation constraint: context specific validationimplementation constraint: spectral hardware requirementoperating role: regulatorswitch architecture: single chain
Each LINuS construct is implemented as a fusion domain appended to the protein of interest at either the N terminus or the C terminus. The evidence indicates blue light as the input and a design based on a natural plant photoreceptor, but it does not specify illumination parameters, cofactors, or expression systems.
The supplied evidence does not report quantitative performance metrics such as import kinetics, dynamic range, leakiness, or phototoxicity. It also does not describe validation breadth across cell types, cargos, or organisms beyond noting derivation from a natural plant photoreceptor.
Validation
Cell-freeBacteriaMammalianMouseHumanTherapeuticIndep. Replication
Supporting Sources
Ranked Claims
Each LINuS is a small genetically encoded domain that is fused to the protein of interest at either the N terminus or the C terminus.
Each LINuS is a small, genetically encoded domain that is fused to the protein of interest at the N or C terminus.
LINuS reversibly triggers import of fused proteins of interest into the nucleus in response to blue light.
The light-inducible nuclear localization signal (LINuS) was developed based on a natural plant photoreceptor that reversibly triggers the import of proteins of interest into the nucleus with blue light.
Approval Evidence
1 source2 linked approval claimsfirst-pass slug light-inducible-nuclear-localization-signal
The light-inducible nuclear localization signal (LINuS) was developed based on a natural plant photoreceptor that reversibly triggers the import of proteins of interest into the nucleus with blue light.
Source:
construct designsupports
Each LINuS is a small genetically encoded domain that is fused to the protein of interest at either the N terminus or the C terminus.
Each LINuS is a small, genetically encoded domain that is fused to the protein of interest at the N or C terminus.
Source:
mechanism of actionsupports
LINuS reversibly triggers import of fused proteins of interest into the nucleus in response to blue light.
The light-inducible nuclear localization signal (LINuS) was developed based on a natural plant photoreceptor that reversibly triggers the import of proteins of interest into the nucleus with blue light.
Source:
Comparisons
Source-backed strengths
The reported strengths are that LINuS is small, genetically encoded, reversible, and activatable by blue light. It can be attached to either the N terminus or C terminus of a protein of interest, which supports flexible construct design.
Compared with antiGFP nanobody
light-inducible nuclear localization signal and antiGFP nanobody address a similar problem space because they share localization.
Shared frame: same top-level item type; shared target processes: localization; same primary input modality: light
Compared with BcLOV4 photoreceptor
light-inducible nuclear localization signal and BcLOV4 photoreceptor address a similar problem space because they share localization.
Shared frame: same top-level item type; shared target processes: localization; same primary input modality: light
Compared with SspB
light-inducible nuclear localization signal and SspB address a similar problem space because they share localization.
Shared frame: same top-level item type; shared target processes: localization; same primary input modality: light
Relative tradeoffs: appears more independently replicated; looks easier to implement in practice.
Ranked Citations
- 1.