Lighting up yeast: overview of optogenetics in yeast and their applications to yeast biotechnology

Abstract Optogenetics is an empowering technology that uses light-responsive proteins to control biological processes. Because of its genetic tractability, abundance of genetic tools, and robust culturing conditions, Saccharomyces cerevisiae has served for many years as an ideal platform in which to study, develop, and apply a wide range of optogenetic systems. In many instances, yeast has been used as a steppingstone in which to characterize and optimize optogenetic tools to later be deployed in higher eukaryotes. More recently, however, optogenetic tools have been developed and deployed in yeast specifically for biotechnological applications, including in nonconventional yeasts. In this review, we summarize various optogenetic systems responding to different wavelengths of light that have been demonstrated in diverse yeast species. We then describe various applications of these optogenetic tools in yeast, particularly in metabolic engineering and recombinant protein production. Finally, we discuss emerging applications in yeast cybergenetics—the interfacing of yeast and computers for closed-loop controls of yeast bioprocesses—and the potential impact of optogenetics in other future biotechnological applications.