A non-naturally occurring or engineered Transcription activator-like effector (TALE) system comprising at least one switch wherein the activity of said TALE system is controlled by contact with at least one inducer energy source as to the switch, wherein the inducer energy source is electromagnetic energy, wherein the TALE system comprises: (i) a DNA binding domain comprising at least ten or more Transcription activator-like effector (TALE) monomers and at least one or more half-monomers specifically ordered to target a locus of interest linked to an energy sensitive protein or fragment thereof, wherein the energy sensitive protein or fragment thereof undergoes a conformational change upon induction by an inducer energy source allowing it to bind an interacting partner, and (ii) at least one or more effector domains linked to the interacting partner, wherein the energy sensitive protein or fragment thereof binds to the interacting partner upon induction by the inducer energy source; or, (i) at least one or more effector domains linked to an energy sensitive protein or fragment thereof, wherein the energy sensitive protein or fragment thereof undergoes a conformational change upon induction by an inducer energy source allowing it to bind an interacting partner, and (ii) a DNA binding domain comprising at least ten or more TALE monomers or half-monomers specifically ordered to target the locus of interest linked to the interacting partner, wherein the energy sensitive protein or fragment thereof binds to the interacting partner upon induction by the inducer energy source. (i) a DNA binding domain comprising at least ten or more Transcription activator-like effector (TALE) monomers and at least one or more half-monomers specifically ordered to target a locus of interest linked to an energy sensitive protein or fragment thereof, wherein the energy sensitive protein or fragment thereof undergoes a conformational change upon induction by an inducer energy source allowing it to bind an interacting partner, and (ii) at least one or more effector domains linked to the interacting partner, wherein the energy sensitive protein or fragment thereof binds to the interacting partner upon induction by the inducer energy source; or, (i) a DNA binding domain comprising at least ten or more Transcription activator-like effector (TALE) monomers and at least one or more half-monomers specifically ordered to target a locus of interest linked to an energy sensitive protein or fragment thereof, wherein the energy sensitive protein or fragment thereof undergoes a conformational change upon induction by an inducer energy source allowing it to bind an interacting partner, and (ii) at least one or more effector domains linked to the interacting partner, wherein the energy sensitive protein or fragment thereof binds to the interacting partner upon induction by the inducer energy source; (i) at least one or more effector domains linked to an energy sensitive protein or fragment thereof, wherein the energy sensitive protein or fragment thereof undergoes a conformational change upon induction by an inducer energy source allowing it to bind an interacting partner, and (ii) a DNA binding domain comprising at least ten or more TALE monomers or half-monomers specifically ordered to target the locus of interest linked to the interacting partner, wherein the energy sensitive protein or fragment thereof binds to the interacting partner upon induction by the inducer energy source. (i) at least one or more effector domains linked to an energy sensitive protein or fragment thereof, wherein the energy sensitive protein or fragment thereof undergoes a conformational change upon induction by an inducer energy source allowing it to bind an interacting partner, and (ii) a DNA binding domain comprising at least ten or more TALE monomers or half-monomers specifically ordered to target the locus of interest linked to the interacting partner, wherein the energy sensitive protein or fragment thereof binds to the interacting partner upon induction by the inducer energy source.