title: Bi-stable neural state switches.
abstract: Here we describe bi-stable channelrhodopsins that convert a brief pulse of light into a stable step in membrane potential. These molecularly engineered probes nevertheless retain millisecond-scale temporal precision. Photocurrents can be precisely initiated and terminated with different colors of light, but operate at vastly longer time scales than conventional channelrhodopsins as a result of modification at the C128 position that extends the lifetime of the open state. Because of their enhanced kinetic stability, these step-function tools are also effectively responsive to light at orders of magnitude lower intensity than wild-type channelrhodopsins. These molecules therefore offer important new capabilities for a broad range of in vivo applications.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biology, Experimental Biophysics, Humboldt-University, Invalidenstrasse 42, D-10115 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berndt
authors.forename: Ofer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Yizhar
authors.forename: Lisa A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Gunaydin
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hegemann
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Deisseroth
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005818:Genetic Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000166:cytology; D055537:Light Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D009865:Oocytes / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012243:Rhodopsin / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D014162:Transfection; D014785:Vision, Ocular / Q000502:physiology*; D014982:Xenopus laevis
chemical_list: D012243:Rhodopsin