Optogenetic control of PLC-γ1 activity directs cell motility

Phospholipase C-γ1 (PLC-γ1) signaling is required for mesenchymal chemotaxis, but is it sufficient to bias motility? PLC-γ1 enzyme activity is basally autoinhibited, and light-controlled membrane recruitment of wild-type PLC-γ1 (OptoPLC-γ1) in Plcg1-null fibroblasts does not trigger lipid hydrolysis, complicating efforts to isolate its contribution. Utilizing cancer-associated mutations to investigate the regulatory logic of PLC-γ1, we demonstrate that a hallmark of enzyme activity, phosphorylated Tyr783, is not a proxy for activity level, but is rather a marker of dysregulated autoinhibition. Accordingly, OptoPLC-γ1 with a deregulating mutation (P867R, S345F, or D1165H) exhibits elevated phosphorylation, and membrane localization of such is sufficient to activate substrate hydrolysis and concomitant motility responses. In particular, local recruitment of OptoPLC-γ1 S345F polarizes cell motility and migration on demand. This response is spatially dose-sensitive and only partially reduced by blocking canonical PLC-γ1 signaling, yet is lipase-dependent. Our findings reframe the interpretation of PLC-γ1 regulation and demonstrate that local activation of PLC-γ1 is sufficient to direct cell motility.