Optogenetic control of gene expression in the cyanobacterium sp. PCC 7002.

Photosynthetic cyanobacteria can be utilised in biotechnology as environmentally sustainable cell factories to convert CO into a diverse range of biochemicals. However, a lack of molecular tools available for precise and dynamic control of gene expression hinders metabolic engineering and contributes to low product titres. Optogenetic tools enable light-regulated control of gene expression with high tunability and reversibility.