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Understanding how proteins behave inside our cells is crucial for advancing treatments for diseases like Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). The research team, led by Dr. Joseph Jen-Tse Huang, Research Fellow at the Institute of Chemistry, Academia Sinica, have developed an innovative molecular tool that uses light to control the behavior of proteins associated with ALS, offering new hope for treatment. Biomolecular condensates are tiny droplets within cells that play a key role in regulating chemical reactions. When these droplets don’t form or behave correctly, it can lead to diseases. For instance, the protein FUS forms condensates, and its malfunction is linked to ALS. Until now, scientists lacked effective tools to study and manipulate these condensates. The research team have created a groundbreaking photocontrollable molecular probe that can change the state of FUS protein condensates from liquid to solid with light exposure. This allows researchers to observe and control how these proteins behave inside cells. Using this light-activated probe, the team discovered that the fluidity of FUS protein condensates in the cytoplasm is crucial for the health of neuronal cells. This insight opens up new possibilities for developing ALS treatments and understanding other motor neuron diseases. This research has been published on July 6, 2024 in Nature Communications, mark a significant advancement in the field. The research team including first author Hao-Yu Chuang from TIGP-CBMB at Academia Sinica, collaborated with experts from the Institute of Physics and the Institute of Chemistry.