Light-activated insulin receptor modulates neuronal plasticity and cerebellar-driven behavior.

We have developed an optogenetic tool called InLOV-an insulin receptor fused to a LOV domain-that enables activation of the insulin receptor signaling pathway via light-induced phosphorylation of its intracellular domains. Light activation of InLOV promotes insulin-induced neuronal plasticity in the mouse cerebellum and enhances cerebellar-driven self-motion behavior. Thus, InLOV enables optogenetic modulation of insulin receptor phosphorylation, opening new possibilities for disease modeling and therapeutic strategies for pathological insulin signaling in humans.