Toolkit/mOptoT7

mOptoT7

Multi-Component Switch·Research·Since 2022

Also known as: mammalian OptoT7, mOptoT7, Opto-T7RNAPs

Taxonomy: Mechanism Branch / Architecture. Workflows sit above the mechanism and technique branches rather than replacing them.

Summary

mOptoT7 is a mammalian optogenetic transcription system composed of a split T7 RNA polymerase fused to the blue-light-inducible nMag/pMag Magnets photodimerization system. Blue light drives reconstitution of the split polymerase to activate transcription from orthogonal T7 promoters in mammalian cells, and the system has been used to produce protein-coding mRNA, shRNA, and the Pepper RNA aptamer.

Usefulness & Problems

Why this is useful

mOptoT7 provides light-gated control of an orthogonal transcriptional program in mammalian cells, enabling inducible expression without relying on endogenous mammalian transcription machinery. Reported applications include protein expression, protein inhibition via shRNA, and RNA visualization via Pepper aptamer, and the system was also reported to mitigate gene-expression burden relative to another optogenetic construct.

Source:

mOptoT7 is used here to generate mRNA for protein expression, shRNA for protein inhibition, and Pepper aptamer for RNA visualization

Problem solved

mOptoT7 addresses the need for temporally controlled, light-responsive gene expression in mammalian cells using a transcription system that is orthogonal to host transcriptional machinery. It also addresses the challenge of improving responsiveness at low light intensity through transfer of evolved Magnets variants, which the authors state can reduce potential phototoxicity in long-term experiments.

Source:

mOptoT7 is used here to generate mRNA for protein expression, shRNA for protein inhibition, and Pepper aptamer for RNA visualization

Taxonomy & Function

Primary hierarchy

Mechanism Branch

Architecture: A composed arrangement of multiple parts that instantiates one or more mechanisms.

Techniques

No technique tags yet.

Target processes

recombinationtranscription

Input: Light

Implementation Constraints

The system consists of a split T7 RNA polymerase coupled by domain fusion to the blue-light-inducible nMag/pMag Magnets pair and is implemented in mammalian cells. Performance was improved by expression tuning, and additional low-light-responsive variants were obtained by transferring Magnets variants generated through directed evolution and high-throughput screening.

The supplied evidence does not report absolute expression levels, kinetics, reversibility, or validation across multiple mammalian cell types or in vivo settings. Claims about reduced phototoxicity are presented as an inferred benefit of low-light operation rather than direct phototoxicity measurements in the provided evidence.

Validation

Cell-freeBacteriaMammalianMouseHumanTherapeuticIndep. Replication

Observations

successMammalian Cell Lineapplication demo

Inferred from claim c2 during normalization. mOptoT7 reached almost 20-fold light activation over dark control after expression tuning. Derived from claim c2. Quoted text: reaching up to an almost 20-fold change activation over the dark control

Source:

fold change activation over dark control20 fold(up to)

Supporting Sources

Ranked Claims

Claim 1activation dynamic rangesupports2022Source 2needs review

mOptoT7 reached almost 20-fold light activation over dark control after expression tuning.

reaching up to an almost 20-fold change activation over the dark control
fold change activation over dark control 20 fold
Claim 2application scopesupports2022Source 2needs review

mOptoT7 was used to generate mRNA for protein expression, shRNA for protein inhibition, and Pepper aptamer for RNA visualization.

mOptoT7 is used here to generate mRNA for protein expression, shRNA for protein inhibition, and Pepper aptamer for RNA visualization
Claim 3burden comparisonsupports2022Source 2needs review

mOptoT7 can mitigate gene expression burden compared with another optogenetic construct.

we show that mOptoT7 can mitigate the gene expression burden when compared to another optogenetic construct
Claim 4engineering method applicationsupports2022Source 1needs review

The authors developed and applied a directed evolution and high-throughput screening strategy to alter the light sensitivity of the nMag/pMag photodimerization system.

we develop and apply a simple, yet powerful, directed evolution and high-throughput screening strategy that allows us to alter the most fundamental property of the widely used nMag/pMag photodimerization system: its light sensitivity
Claim 5engineering method applicationsupports2022Source 1needs review

The authors developed and applied a directed evolution and high-throughput screening strategy to alter the light sensitivity of the nMag/pMag photodimerization system.

we develop and apply a simple, yet powerful, directed evolution and high-throughput screening strategy that allows us to alter the most fundamental property of the widely used nMag/pMag photodimerization system: its light sensitivity
Claim 6engineering method applicationsupports2022Source 1needs review

The authors developed and applied a directed evolution and high-throughput screening strategy to alter the light sensitivity of the nMag/pMag photodimerization system.

we develop and apply a simple, yet powerful, directed evolution and high-throughput screening strategy that allows us to alter the most fundamental property of the widely used nMag/pMag photodimerization system: its light sensitivity
Claim 7engineering method applicationsupports2022Source 1needs review

The authors developed and applied a directed evolution and high-throughput screening strategy to alter the light sensitivity of the nMag/pMag photodimerization system.

we develop and apply a simple, yet powerful, directed evolution and high-throughput screening strategy that allows us to alter the most fundamental property of the widely used nMag/pMag photodimerization system: its light sensitivity
Claim 8engineering method applicationsupports2022Source 1needs review

The authors developed and applied a directed evolution and high-throughput screening strategy to alter the light sensitivity of the nMag/pMag photodimerization system.

we develop and apply a simple, yet powerful, directed evolution and high-throughput screening strategy that allows us to alter the most fundamental property of the widely used nMag/pMag photodimerization system: its light sensitivity
Claim 9engineering method applicationsupports2022Source 1needs review

The authors developed and applied a directed evolution and high-throughput screening strategy to alter the light sensitivity of the nMag/pMag photodimerization system.

we develop and apply a simple, yet powerful, directed evolution and high-throughput screening strategy that allows us to alter the most fundamental property of the widely used nMag/pMag photodimerization system: its light sensitivity
Claim 10engineering method applicationsupports2022Source 1needs review

The authors developed and applied a directed evolution and high-throughput screening strategy to alter the light sensitivity of the nMag/pMag photodimerization system.

we develop and apply a simple, yet powerful, directed evolution and high-throughput screening strategy that allows us to alter the most fundamental property of the widely used nMag/pMag photodimerization system: its light sensitivity
Claim 11orthogonalitysupports2022Source 2needs review

mOptoT7 is orthogonal to mammalian cellular transcriptional machinery.

The tool is orthogonal to the cellular machinery for transcription
Claim 12performance improvementsupports2022Source 1needs review

Transferred variants in mOptoT7 increased gene expression levels at low light intensities, which the authors state results in reduced potential phototoxicity in long-term experiments.

We demonstrate increased gene expression levels for low light intensities, resulting in reduced potential phototoxicity in long-term experiments.
Claim 13performance improvementsupports2022Source 1needs review

Transferred variants in mOptoT7 increased gene expression levels at low light intensities, which the authors state results in reduced potential phototoxicity in long-term experiments.

We demonstrate increased gene expression levels for low light intensities, resulting in reduced potential phototoxicity in long-term experiments.
Claim 14performance improvementsupports2022Source 1needs review

Transferred variants in mOptoT7 increased gene expression levels at low light intensities, which the authors state results in reduced potential phototoxicity in long-term experiments.

We demonstrate increased gene expression levels for low light intensities, resulting in reduced potential phototoxicity in long-term experiments.
Claim 15performance improvementsupports2022Source 1needs review

Transferred variants in mOptoT7 increased gene expression levels at low light intensities, which the authors state results in reduced potential phototoxicity in long-term experiments.

We demonstrate increased gene expression levels for low light intensities, resulting in reduced potential phototoxicity in long-term experiments.
Claim 16performance improvementsupports2022Source 1needs review

Transferred variants in mOptoT7 increased gene expression levels at low light intensities, which the authors state results in reduced potential phototoxicity in long-term experiments.

We demonstrate increased gene expression levels for low light intensities, resulting in reduced potential phototoxicity in long-term experiments.
Claim 17performance improvementsupports2022Source 1needs review

Transferred variants in mOptoT7 increased gene expression levels at low light intensities, which the authors state results in reduced potential phototoxicity in long-term experiments.

We demonstrate increased gene expression levels for low light intensities, resulting in reduced potential phototoxicity in long-term experiments.
Claim 18performance improvementsupports2022Source 1needs review

Transferred variants in mOptoT7 increased gene expression levels at low light intensities, which the authors state results in reduced potential phototoxicity in long-term experiments.

We demonstrate increased gene expression levels for low light intensities, resulting in reduced potential phototoxicity in long-term experiments.
Claim 19property decouplingsupports2022Source 1needs review

For some variants, photosensitivity and expression levels could be changed independently, enabling tuning of the light-activity dose-response curve.

For some of these variants, photosensitivity and expression levels could be changed independently, showing that the shape of the light-activity dose-response curve can be tuned and adjusted.
Claim 20property decouplingsupports2022Source 1needs review

For some variants, photosensitivity and expression levels could be changed independently, enabling tuning of the light-activity dose-response curve.

For some of these variants, photosensitivity and expression levels could be changed independently, showing that the shape of the light-activity dose-response curve can be tuned and adjusted.
Claim 21property decouplingsupports2022Source 1needs review

For some variants, photosensitivity and expression levels could be changed independently, enabling tuning of the light-activity dose-response curve.

For some of these variants, photosensitivity and expression levels could be changed independently, showing that the shape of the light-activity dose-response curve can be tuned and adjusted.
Claim 22property decouplingsupports2022Source 1needs review

For some variants, photosensitivity and expression levels could be changed independently, enabling tuning of the light-activity dose-response curve.

For some of these variants, photosensitivity and expression levels could be changed independently, showing that the shape of the light-activity dose-response curve can be tuned and adjusted.
Claim 23property decouplingsupports2022Source 1needs review

For some variants, photosensitivity and expression levels could be changed independently, enabling tuning of the light-activity dose-response curve.

For some of these variants, photosensitivity and expression levels could be changed independently, showing that the shape of the light-activity dose-response curve can be tuned and adjusted.
Claim 24property decouplingsupports2022Source 1needs review

For some variants, photosensitivity and expression levels could be changed independently, enabling tuning of the light-activity dose-response curve.

For some of these variants, photosensitivity and expression levels could be changed independently, showing that the shape of the light-activity dose-response curve can be tuned and adjusted.
Claim 25property decouplingsupports2022Source 1needs review

For some variants, photosensitivity and expression levels could be changed independently, enabling tuning of the light-activity dose-response curve.

For some of these variants, photosensitivity and expression levels could be changed independently, showing that the shape of the light-activity dose-response curve can be tuned and adjusted.
Claim 26property tuningsupports2022Source 1needs review

Mutations within the photosensory domains were identified that increase or decrease light sensitivity at sub-saturating light intensities, and some variants also improve dark-to-light fold change.

We identify a set of mutations located within the photosensory domains, which either increase or decrease the light sensitivity at sub-saturating light intensities, while also improving the dark-to-light fold change in certain variants.
Claim 27property tuningsupports2022Source 1needs review

Mutations within the photosensory domains were identified that increase or decrease light sensitivity at sub-saturating light intensities, and some variants also improve dark-to-light fold change.

We identify a set of mutations located within the photosensory domains, which either increase or decrease the light sensitivity at sub-saturating light intensities, while also improving the dark-to-light fold change in certain variants.
Claim 28property tuningsupports2022Source 1needs review

Mutations within the photosensory domains were identified that increase or decrease light sensitivity at sub-saturating light intensities, and some variants also improve dark-to-light fold change.

We identify a set of mutations located within the photosensory domains, which either increase or decrease the light sensitivity at sub-saturating light intensities, while also improving the dark-to-light fold change in certain variants.
Claim 29property tuningsupports2022Source 1needs review

Mutations within the photosensory domains were identified that increase or decrease light sensitivity at sub-saturating light intensities, and some variants also improve dark-to-light fold change.

We identify a set of mutations located within the photosensory domains, which either increase or decrease the light sensitivity at sub-saturating light intensities, while also improving the dark-to-light fold change in certain variants.
Claim 30property tuningsupports2022Source 1needs review

Mutations within the photosensory domains were identified that increase or decrease light sensitivity at sub-saturating light intensities, and some variants also improve dark-to-light fold change.

We identify a set of mutations located within the photosensory domains, which either increase or decrease the light sensitivity at sub-saturating light intensities, while also improving the dark-to-light fold change in certain variants.
Claim 31property tuningsupports2022Source 1needs review

Mutations within the photosensory domains were identified that increase or decrease light sensitivity at sub-saturating light intensities, and some variants also improve dark-to-light fold change.

We identify a set of mutations located within the photosensory domains, which either increase or decrease the light sensitivity at sub-saturating light intensities, while also improving the dark-to-light fold change in certain variants.
Claim 32property tuningsupports2022Source 1needs review

Mutations within the photosensory domains were identified that increase or decrease light sensitivity at sub-saturating light intensities, and some variants also improve dark-to-light fold change.

We identify a set of mutations located within the photosensory domains, which either increase or decrease the light sensitivity at sub-saturating light intensities, while also improving the dark-to-light fold change in certain variants.
Claim 33transferabilitysupports2022Source 1needs review

A subset of Magnets variants can be transferred into mOptoT7 for gene expression regulation in mammalian cells.

We further show that a subset of these variants can be transferred into the mOptoT7 for gene expression regulation in mammalian cells.
Claim 34transferabilitysupports2022Source 1needs review

A subset of Magnets variants can be transferred into mOptoT7 for gene expression regulation in mammalian cells.

We further show that a subset of these variants can be transferred into the mOptoT7 for gene expression regulation in mammalian cells.
Claim 35transferabilitysupports2022Source 1needs review

A subset of Magnets variants can be transferred into mOptoT7 for gene expression regulation in mammalian cells.

We further show that a subset of these variants can be transferred into the mOptoT7 for gene expression regulation in mammalian cells.
Claim 36transferabilitysupports2022Source 1needs review

A subset of Magnets variants can be transferred into mOptoT7 for gene expression regulation in mammalian cells.

We further show that a subset of these variants can be transferred into the mOptoT7 for gene expression regulation in mammalian cells.
Claim 37transferabilitysupports2022Source 1needs review

A subset of Magnets variants can be transferred into mOptoT7 for gene expression regulation in mammalian cells.

We further show that a subset of these variants can be transferred into the mOptoT7 for gene expression regulation in mammalian cells.
Claim 38transferabilitysupports2022Source 1needs review

A subset of Magnets variants can be transferred into mOptoT7 for gene expression regulation in mammalian cells.

We further show that a subset of these variants can be transferred into the mOptoT7 for gene expression regulation in mammalian cells.
Claim 39transferabilitysupports2022Source 1needs review

A subset of Magnets variants can be transferred into mOptoT7 for gene expression regulation in mammalian cells.

We further show that a subset of these variants can be transferred into the mOptoT7 for gene expression regulation in mammalian cells.

Approval Evidence

2 sources6 linked approval claimsfirst-pass slug moptot7
transferred into the mOptoT7 for gene expression regulation in mammalian cells

Source:

Here we implement, characterize, and optimize a new optogenetic tool in mammalian cells based on a previously published system in bacteria called Opto-T7RNAPs. The tool is orthogonal to the cellular machinery for transcription and consists of a split T7 RNA polymerase coupled with the blue light-inducible magnets system (mammalian OptoT7-mOptoT7).

Source:

activation dynamic rangesupports

mOptoT7 reached almost 20-fold light activation over dark control after expression tuning.

reaching up to an almost 20-fold change activation over the dark control

Source:

application scopesupports

mOptoT7 was used to generate mRNA for protein expression, shRNA for protein inhibition, and Pepper aptamer for RNA visualization.

mOptoT7 is used here to generate mRNA for protein expression, shRNA for protein inhibition, and Pepper aptamer for RNA visualization

Source:

burden comparisonsupports

mOptoT7 can mitigate gene expression burden compared with another optogenetic construct.

we show that mOptoT7 can mitigate the gene expression burden when compared to another optogenetic construct

Source:

orthogonalitysupports

mOptoT7 is orthogonal to mammalian cellular transcriptional machinery.

The tool is orthogonal to the cellular machinery for transcription

Source:

performance improvementsupports

Transferred variants in mOptoT7 increased gene expression levels at low light intensities, which the authors state results in reduced potential phototoxicity in long-term experiments.

We demonstrate increased gene expression levels for low light intensities, resulting in reduced potential phototoxicity in long-term experiments.

Source:

transferabilitysupports

A subset of Magnets variants can be transferred into mOptoT7 for gene expression regulation in mammalian cells.

We further show that a subset of these variants can be transferred into the mOptoT7 for gene expression regulation in mammalian cells.

Source:

Comparisons

Source-backed strengths

After expression tuning, mOptoT7 achieved almost 20-fold light activation over dark control. The platform was demonstrated across multiple output modalities—protein-coding mRNA, shRNA, and Pepper aptamer—and transferred Magnets variants increased gene expression at low light intensities.

Source:

we develop and apply a simple, yet powerful, directed evolution and high-throughput screening strategy that allows us to alter the most fundamental property of the widely used nMag/pMag photodimerization system: its light sensitivity

Source:

We demonstrate increased gene expression levels for low light intensities, resulting in reduced potential phototoxicity in long-term experiments.

Ranked Citations

  1. 1.

    Extracted from this source document.