Microbial rhodopsin (MRs) ion channels and pumps have become invaluable optogenetic tools for neuroscience as well as biomedical applications. Recently, MR-optogenetics expanded towards subcellular organelles opening principally new opportunities in optogenetic control of intracellular metabolism and signaling via precise manipulations of organelle ion gradients using light. This new optogenetic field expands the opportunities for basic and medical studies of cancer, cardiovascular, and metabolic disorders, providing more detailed and accurate control of cell physiology. This review summarizes recent advances in studies of the cellular metabolic processes and signaling mediated by optogenetic tools targeting mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum (ER), lysosomes, and synaptic vesicles. Finally, we discuss perspectives of such an optogenetic approach in both fundamental and applied research.

Since potential therapeutic significance had been discovered for quadruplex secondary structures of nucleic acids, many compounds stabilizing these targets were identified. The progress was due to understanding the structural features of G-quadruplexes. Quadruplex ligands selectively suppress the growth of tumor cells by indirectly attenuating telomerase activity or inhibiting oncogene expression. A therapeutic effect demonstrated in vivo supports the idea that G-quadruplexes are promising for the development of targeted anticancer drugs. The review highlights the significance of G-quadruplexes as therapeutic targets and focuses on the biochemical properties of low-molecular-weight quadruplex ligands.