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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2021 Aug 20.
Published in final edited form as: Cell Chem Biol. 2020 Aug 13;27(8):904–920. doi: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2020.07.022

Figure 7. Recent examples of harnessing bioluminescent photons to drive biological processes.

Figure 7.

(A) Transcellular activation of gene expression. Nluc expressed in “sender” cells (blue) activated light-sensitive proteins in “receiver” cells (pink), resulting in mCitrine expression (green). (B) Intracellular activation of gene expression. Energy transfer from a Nluc-mCerulean conjugate to a flavin-binding protein facilitated heterodimerization and downstream transcription of reporter genes. (C) Cytotoxic drug release. Energy transfer from Nluc to a ruthenium photocatalyst facilitated bond cleavage reactions and cargo release.