Abstract: Provided herein is an isolated fusion protein comprising a light-responsive domain and a heterologous peptide component. Exposure of the fusion protein to light induces a conformational change in the fusion protein that alters an activity of the fusion protein and the activity is a binding activity selected from an in vitro binding activity, an in vivo extracellular binding activity and an in vivo intracellular binding activity. Also provided are methods of using and identifying the fusion proteins.

Abstract: Provided herein is an isolated fusion protein comprising a light-responsive domain and a heterologous peptide component. Exposure of the fusion protein to light induces a conformational change in the fusion protein that alters an activity of the fusion protein and the activity is a binding activity selected from an in vitro binding activity, an in vivo extracellular binding activity and an in vivo intracellular binding activity. Also provided are methods of using and identifying the fusion proteins.

Abstract: An earlobe piercer which has a pair of jaws that are movable towards and away from each other and a pressure plate mounted to one of the jaws which engages and holds the earlobe to be pierced. A slot in the pressure plate has a bottom end that supports one end of a piercing stud. The other end of the stud is disposed in an actuating mechanism which can be released to drive the stud linearly forward and through the earlobe while the stud is guided by the slot bottom. An enlarged cutout in the pressure plate provides visual access to the earlobe to be pierced to facilitate the alignment of any given point on the lobe with the stud. The piercer further provides means for positioning a stud-engaging clip which has an aperture that intercepts the travel path of the stud so that the stud engages the clip at the end of the piercing operation to thereby secure it to the earlobe.