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Modular engineering of thermoresponsive allosteric proteins

Thermogenetics enables noninvasive spatiotemporal control over protein activity in living cells and tissues, yet its applications have largely been restricted to transcriptional regulation and membrane recruitment. Here, we present a generalizable strategy for engineering thermosensitive allosteric...

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Main Authors: Kröll, Ann-Sophie (Author) , Hoffmann, Kira H. (Author) , Motzkus, Nikolas (Author) , Lemmen, Nina (Author) , Happ, Nele Pascale (Author) , Wolf, Benedict (Author) , Bachmann, Anna-Lisa von (Author) , Southern, Nicholas (Author) , Vogd, Felicitas (Author) , Aschenbrenner, Sabine (Author) , Niopek, Dominik (Author) , Mathony, Jan (Author)
Format: Article (Journal)
Language:English
Published: 12 February 2026
In: Nature chemical biology
Year: 2026, Volume: 22, Issue: 5, Pages: 751-758
ISSN:1552-4469
DOI:10.1038/s41589-026-02151-y
Online Access:Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41589-026-02151-y
Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41589-026-02151-y
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Author Notes:Ann-Sophie Kroell, Kira H. Hoffmann, Nikolas A. Motzkus, Nina Lemmen, Nele Happ, Benedict Wolf, Anna-Lisa von Bachmann, Nicholas Southern, Felicitas Vogd, Sabine Aschenbrenner, Dominik Niopek, Jan Mathony
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Summary:Thermogenetics enables noninvasive spatiotemporal control over protein activity in living cells and tissues, yet its applications have largely been restricted to transcriptional regulation and membrane recruitment. Here, we present a generalizable strategy for engineering thermosensitive allosteric proteins through the insertion of optimized Avena sativa LOV2 domain variants. Applying this approach to a diverse set of structurally and functionally unrelated proteins in Escherichia coli, we generated potent, thermoswitchable chimeric variants that can be tightly controlled within narrow temperature ranges (37-41 °C). Extending this strategy to mammalian systems, we engineered CRISPR-Cas genome editors directly modulated by subtle temperature changes within the physiological range. Lastly, we showcase the incorporation of a chemoreceptor domain as an alternative thermosensing module, suggesting thermosensitivity to be a widespread feature in receptor domains. This work expands the toolkit of thermogenetics, providing a blueprint for temperature-dependent control of virtually any protein of interest.
Item Description:Online verfügbar 12. Februar 2026
Gesehen am 26.05.2026
Physical Description:Online Resource
ISSN:1552-4469
DOI:10.1038/s41589-026-02151-y

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