title: Targeted expression of a chimeric channelrhodopsin in zebrafish under regulation of Gal4-UAS system.
abstract: Channelrhodopsin (ChR)-wide receiver (ChRWR), one of the chimeric molecule of ChR1 and ChR2, has several advantages over ChR2 such as improved expression in the plasma membrane and enhanced photocurrent with small desensitization. Here we generated transgenic zebrafish (Danio rerio) expressing ChRWR as a conjugate of EGFP under the regulation of UAS promoter (UAS:ChRWR-EGFP). When crossed with a Gal4 line, SAGFF36B, ChRWR-EGFP was selectively expressed in primary mechanosensory Rohon-Beard (RB) neurons. The direct photoactivation of RB neurons was sufficient to trigger the escape behavior. The UAS:ChRWR-EGFP line could facilitate a variety of investigations of neural networks and behaviors of zebrafish in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Developmental Biology & Neuroscience, Tohoku University Graduate School of Life Sciences, Sendai, Japan.
authors.forename: Keiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Umeda
authors.forename: Wataru
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Shoji
authors.forename: Seiichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sakai
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Muto
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kawakami
authors.forename: Toru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ishizuka
authors.forename: Hiromu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yawo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D002678:Chimera; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008465:Mechanoreceptors / Q000502:physiology*; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D062308:Optogenetics / Q000379:methods*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D012243:Rhodopsin / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015027:Zebrafish; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C542436:Gal4 protein, zebrafish; D014157:Transcription Factors; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins; D012243:Rhodopsin