721-Optovolution: Directed Evolution of Multi-State Proteins

Paper Talk · Mar 31, 2026 · 23m

Researchers have developed "optovolution," a groundbreaking method for the continuous directed evolution of complex, multi-state protein functions using light-responsive selection pressure. By genetically engineering budding yeast to link a protein of interest to essential cell-cycle regulators, the team created a system where cells only proliferate if the protein correctly switches between "on" and "off" states. This approach successfully produced 19 new variants of the LOV transcription factor with enhanced sensitivity and reduced leakiness, while also enabling color-multiplexing via…