Bi-stable neural state switches.
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.
Berndt
André
A
Institute of Biology, Experimental Biophysics, Humboldt-University, Invalidenstrasse 42, D-10115 Berlin, Germany.
Yizhar
Ofer
O
Gunaydin
Lisa A
LA
Hegemann
Peter
P
Deisseroth
Karl
K
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
D012243:Rhodopsin