ÖPTODROPLET

OptoDroplets are optogenetic inducible condensates. The module consists of the plant-derived CRY2 domain, which multimerizes upon blue light stimulation, fused to sticky IDRs that drives subsequent phase separation.

The ability to precisely control the timing of phase separation has made this module extremely popular.

Other blue-light inducible condensate systems are Corelets and CasDrop. PixELLs are condensates that dissociate upon blue light exposure.

PROS:
+ common molecular grammar of IDR
+ IDR subunit is highly tunable
+ optogenetic induction

CONS:
- large constructs
- potential interference with endogenous processes depending on IDR
- prolonged blue light exposure is toxic in mammalian cell models