Chemogenetic Tools in Focus: Proximity, Conformation, and Sterics

Chemogenetic tools have been widely applied to interrogate dynamic biological processes. They are genetically encoded systems that are controlled by user-defined chemicals. In this review, chemogenetic tool designs for various biological applications are introduced and discussed.

Abstract

Chemogenetic tools are genetically encoded systems regulated by user-defined chemicals. Their ability to temporally modulate protein functions in specific cell populations has facilitated in-depth understanding of dynamic biological systems. Many chemogenetic domains have been developed for regulating a wide range of biological processes, ranging from cellular events to animal behaviors. These tools share some common mechanisms, including proximity regulation, conformational change and allosteric control, as well as steric hinderance control. Here in this review, we aim to provide an overview of different chemogenetic tool designs that utilize the above three common mechanisms to control cellular events.