This paper introduces PHOIMiDs, photoswitchable immunomodulatory drugs that degrade Ikaros and Aiolos in a light-dependent manner with high selectivity.

bioRxiv · Apr 9, 2023 · PreprintBiochemistry

Optical Control Of Neuronal Activities With Photoswitchable Nanovesicles

H. Xiong, K. A. Alberto, J. Youn, J. Taura, J. Morstein, X. Li, Y. Wang, D. Trauner, P. A. Slesinger, S. O. Nielsen, Z. Qin

This paper develops photoswitchable nanovesicles (azosomes) for precise optical control of molecular release in neurons, demonstrating their ability to activate dopamine receptors in cultured striatal neurons.

bioRxiv · Jun 10, 2022Bioengineering

Optical Control of Membrane Fluidity Modulates Protein Secretion

N. Jimenez-Rojo, S. Feng, J. Morstein, S. D. Pritzl, T. Harayama, A. Asaro, N. A. Veprek, C. J. Arp, M. Reynders, A. J. E. Novak, E. Kanshin, B. Ueberheide, T. Lohmuller, H. Riezman, D. Trauner

This paper introduces an optical method to control membrane fluidity using a synthetic fatty acid with an azobenzene photoswitch, demonstrating its impact on protein secretion from the ER.

bioRxiv · Feb 14, 2022 · PreprintCell Biology

Cholesterol and sphingomyelin are critical for Fcγ receptor-mediated phagocytosis of Cryptococcus neoformans by macrophages

A. M. Bryan, J. K. You, G. Li, J. Kim, A. Singh, J. Morstein, D. Trauner, N. Pereira de Sa, T. G. Normile, A. M. Farnoud, E. London, M. Del Poeta

This study shows that cholesterol and sphingomyelin in lipid rafts are essential for Fcγ receptor-mediated phagocytosis of Cryptococcus neoformans by macrophages.

bioRxiv · Nov 2, 2021Microbiology

Structural Diversity of Photoswitchable Sphingolipids for Optodynamic Control of Lipid Raft Microdomains

N. Hartrampf, S. M. Leitao, N. Winter, H. Toombs-Ruane, J. A. Frank, P. Schwille, D. Trauner, H. G. Franquelim

This study develops photoswitchable sphingolipids to control lipid raft microdomains in model membranes using light-induced isomerization.

bioRxiv · Oct 11, 2021Biophysics

Photoswitchable microtubule stabilisers optically control tubulin cytoskeleton structure and function

A. Müller-Deku, K. Loy, Y. Kraus, C. Heise, R. Bingham, J. Ahlfeld, D. Trauner, O. Thorn-Seshold

The paper develops photoswitchable microtubule stabilizers that allow optical control of microtubule structure and function in live cells with high spatiotemporal precision.

bioRxiv · Sep 23, 2019Cell Biology

Microtubules control cellular shape and coherence in amoeboid migrating cells

A. Kopf, J. Renkawitz, R. Hauschild, I. Girkontaite, K. Tedford, J. Merrin, O. Thorn-Seshold, D. Trauner, H. Haecker, K. D. Fischer, E. Kiermaier, M. Sixt

This study shows that microtubules regulate protrusion retraction in migrating cells by controlling myosin II contractility through Lfc, maintaining cell shape and coherence.

bioRxiv · Jul 23, 2019Cell Biology

SNAP-tagged nanobodies enable reversible optical control of a G protein-coupled receptor via a remotely tethered photoswitchable ligand

H. Farrants, A. Acosta Ruiz, V. A. Gutzeit, D. Trauner, K. Johnsson, J. Levitz, J. Broichhagen

This paper introduces a method to reversibly control GPCR activity using photoswitchable ligands tethered via SNAP-tagged nanobodies.

bioRxiv · Feb 15, 2018Pharmacology & Toxicology