Fig. 1: Optogenetics can be used to induce mitochondria-lysosome contacts.

a Schematic representation of optogenetic induction of MLCs. Light-sensitive proteins CRY2 and CIB are anchored to lysosomes and mitochondria via the specific organelle-targeting transmembrane domains LAMP and TOM20, respectively. Blue light illumination induces CRY2-CIB association and facilitates the formation of MLCs. GFP and mCherry are used as expression markers. b Representative structured illumination microscopic images of mitochondria (green) and lysosomes (red) with or without blue light exposure for 20 min at 300 μW/cm². c Partially enlarged images of Fig. 1b. d Intensities of GFP and mCherry on the white arrows in Fig. 1c. e Quantification of percentages of lysosomes contacting and not contacting mitochondria without or with blue light exposure. f Quantification of percentages of lysosomes contacting and not contacting mitochondria with blue light exposure or with blue light exposure followed by dark for 24 h. For (e) and (f), n = 12 cells examined over 3 independent experiments. Data are presented as M ± SEM. The statistical differences between the experimental groups were analyzed by double-tailed Student’s t test. When P < 0.05, it was considered to have statistical significance. Source data are provided as a Source Data file.