Light-inducible activation of target mRNA translation in mammalian cellsElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Materials and methods, luciferase assay and DNA primer sequences. See DOI: 10.1039/c3cc44866e

A genetically encoded optogenetic system was constructed that activates mRNA translation in mammalian cells in response to light. Blue light induces the reconstitution of an RNA binding domain and a translation initiation domain, thereby activating target mRNA translation downstream of the binding sites. We have developed a light-inducible translational activation system in mammalian cells based on the light-sensitive reconstitution of an RNA binding domain and a translation initiation domain.