Texas A&M researchers have developed a groundbreaking light-controlled gene therapy system, offering a new approach to treating diseases and advancing biotechnology. This innovation, called PhoBIT, enables scientists to precisely control cellular functions using light, opening up exciting possibilities for medical research and treatment.
The PhoBIT system, designed by Dr. Tien-Hung Lan and his team, acts as a tiny light switch, allowing researchers to regulate gene therapy, cell signaling, and even cell death with remarkable accuracy. By redesigning a natural tag-and-binder pair to respond to light, PhoBIT offers a small, precise tool that empowers scientists to turn cellular pathways on or off with pinpoint precision.
This novel approach to gene and cellular regulation has the potential to revolutionize immunotherapy, regenerative medicine, and cancer therapy. Traditional cancer treatments often cause harmful side effects, but PhoBIT provides a safer and more targeted approach. It uses blue light to guide an amino acid, sspB, which binds to ssrA, manipulating gene and protein function.
The research team developed two light-controlled switches, PhoBIT1 and PhoBIT2, each incorporating different light domains. PhoBIT1 causes the ssrA-sspB complex to dissociate when exposed to blue light, while PhoBIT2 activates protein interactions. This reversible and precise system is versatile, applicable to gene editing, immune signaling, and cancer pathways, and has shown therapeutic potential in animal models.
PhoBIT's design enables precise control over protein interactions and cellular processes. In gene regulation, it can halt or resume gene expression with light, allowing for split-second alterations. In cell signaling, PhoBIT can modify cellular interactions instantly, providing real-time insights into biological processes.
The system's small size and ease of packaging make it suitable for standard medical delivery systems. PhoBIT's applications extend to improved cancer therapy, where a synthetic protein targets leukemia-driving proteins when exposed to light, protecting healthy tissues. Early studies have shown slowed tumor growth, indicating a new layer of safety and precision.
Looking ahead, the team aims to translate PhoBIT's capabilities into human therapies and lay the groundwork for further research. They are engineering versions that work with deeper-penetrating red and near-infrared light, pairing PhoBIT with clinically practical delivery methods. The potential applications extend beyond cancer, including immune disorders, regenerative medicine, and smart cell therapies, in collaboration with clinicians.
