title: Optical silencing of C. elegans cells with light-driven proton pumps.
abstract: Recent development of optogenetic techniques, which utilize light-driven ion channels or ion pumps for controlling the activity of excitable cells, has greatly facilitated the investigation of nervous systems in vivo. A new generation of optical silencers includes outward-directed proton pumps, such as Arch, which have several advantages over currently widely used halorhodopsin (NpHR). These advantages include the resistance to inactivation during prolonged illumination and the ability to generate a larger optical current from low intensity light. C. elegans, with its small transparent body and well-characterized neural circuits, is especially suitable for optogenetic analyses. In this article, we will outline the practical aspects of using of Arch and other proton pumps as optogenetic tools in C. elegans.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biological Science, Nagoya University, Graduate School of Science, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Ayako
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Okazaki
authors.affiliation: Division of Biological Science, Nagoya University, Graduate School of Science, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Megumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.affiliation: Division of Biological Science, Nagoya University, Graduate School of Science, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Naoya
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Toyoda
authors.affiliation: Division of Biological Science, Nagoya University, Graduate School of Science, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Japan. Electronic address: i45116a@nucc.cc.nagoya-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Shin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takagi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000528:radiation effects; D008027:Light; D009420:Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D062308:Optogenetics / Q000379:methods*; D017494:Proton Pumps / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000528:radiation effects
chemical_list: D017494:Proton Pumps
keywords: Arch; Bacteriorhodopsin; C. elegans; Optogenetics; Outward-directed proton pump