APPLYING OPTOGENETICS TO SINGLE CELLS: DO PHOTOPHYSICS, DIFFUSION, COMPARTMENTALIZATION, INTERACTIONS, ETC., REALLY MATTER?

Optogenetic control of single cells with high spatio-temporal precision is a quite promising technique to better understand many cellular processes such as motility, fate or signalization.

We performed a series of experiments to study membrane recruitment using either an evanescent single spot photoactivation or a propagative one. While we initially expected that an evanescent spot would enable a much better spatially localized photoactivation and recruitment, we observed mitigated results.

To understand those results we developed a biophysical model of our biological system.

Therefore, we will discuss almost everything you always wanted to know about photophysics, diffusion, compartmentalization and interactions (but were perhaps afraid to ask).

Finally, we will give few cues to improve the spatial resolution of optogenetic photoactivation.