New System to Store and Release Biomolecules in Living Cells

Optogenetic storage and release of protein and mRNA in live cells and animals

Researchers at KAIST, in South Korea, have unveiled a new optogenetic technology that allows scientists to store and release proteins and mRNA inside living cells and animals using light. The innovation is called RELISR (Reversible Light-Induced Store and Release), an optogenetic condensate system that enables reversible storage and release of proteins or mRNAs.

Cells naturally organize their internal components using structures called biomolecular condensates, droplet-like compartments that lack membranes but still manage to separate and protect biomolecules. While scientists have long studied these structures, tools to manipulate them with precision have been limited. RELISR changes that. The system integrates multivalent scaffolds, optogenetic switches, and cargo-binding domains to trap cargo in the dark and release it upon blue-light exposure. This light-triggered release show promise in altering cell shapes and activating protein translation in both lab dishes and live mice.

For the light stimulation setup the group used the 488 Cobolt 06-01 laser integrated into a photo-stimulation module.

RELISR allows spatiotemporal control over protein function and mRNA translation, with demonstrated applicability across multiple cell types and proof-of-concept in vivo. As optogenetics continues to evolve, RELISR stands out as a powerful tool for the next generation of cellular engineering.