Optochemical Control of Biological Processes in Cells and Animals

Biological processes are naturally regulated with high spatial and temporal control, as is perhaps most evident in metazoan embryogenesis. Chemical tools have been extensively utilized in cell and developmental biology to investigate cellular processes, and conditional control methods have expanded applications of these technologies toward resolving complex biological questions. Light represents an excellent external trigger since it can be controlled with very high spatial and temporal precision. To this end, several optically regulated tools have been developed and applied to living systems. In this review we discuss recent developments of optochemical tools, including small molecules, peptides, proteins, and nucleic acids that can be irreversibly or reversibly controlled through light irradiation, with a focus on applications in cells and animals. Light the way: Chemical tools have found broad applications in biology for investigating cellular processes. By combining these tools with light as an external trigger, high spatial and temporal precision can be achieved. This Review highlights recent developments in optochemical tools that can be irreversibly or reversibly controlled, with a focus on applications in cells and animals.