Optical Control of G-Actin with a Photoswitchable Latrunculin

Abstract

Actin is one of the most abundant proteins in eukaryotic cells and is a key component of the cytoskeleton. A range of small molecules has emerged that interfere with actin dynamics by either binding to polymeric F-actin or monomeric G-actin to stabilize or destabilize filaments or prevent their formation and growth, respectively. Among these, the latrunculins, which bind to G-actin and affect polymerization, are widely used as tools to investigate actin-dependent cellular processes. Here, we report a photoswitchable version of latrunculin, termed opto-latrunculin (<b>OptoLat</b>), which binds to G-actin in a light-dependent fashion and affords optical control over actin polymerization. <b>OptoLat</b> can be activated with 390-490 nm pulsed light and rapidly relaxes to its inactive form in the dark. Light activated <b>OptoLat</b> induced depolymerization of F-actin networks in oligodendrocytes and budding yeast, as shown by fluorescence microscopy. Subcellular control of actin dynamics in human cancer cell lines was demonstrated via live cell imaging. Light-activated <b>OptoLat</b> also reduced microglia surveillance in organotypic mouse brain slices while ramification was not affected. Incubation in the dark did not alter the structural and functional integrity of the microglia. Together, our data demonstrate that <b>OptoLat</b> is a useful tool for the elucidation of G-actin dependent dynamic processes in cells and tissues.