Collection 

Optogenetics

Optogenetics: a decade of illuminating biology

In 2005, a study from the Deisseroth lab published in Nature Neuroscience demonstrated precise and reliable activation of neurons expressing the light-sensitive microbial protein channelrhodopsin-2 in response to pulses of light. This was not the first attempt at controlling neuronal activity with light, but the properties of channelrhodopsin-2 set the stage for its wide adoption. Many neuroscientists have now enthusiastically embraced optogenetics, with long-held views definitively tested and new insights into the brain in both health and disease gained. The optogenetics tool box has rapidly expanded over the past decade, paving the way for experiments that would have once seemed impossible. The reach of optogenetics now extends beyond neuroscience, as the dream of fine-tuned control of cellular activity is not limited to those working on the nervous system.

In this Collection, we present a snapshot of how the field of optogenetics has progressed. While the research and commentaries highlighted in these pages provides only a snippet of this large and robust field, we hope that these articles provide a sense for the technological improvements and biological insights driving the community forward.

 

  • ChR2: Anniversary - The September 2015 issue of Nature Neuroscience celebrates the 10th anniversary of channelrhodopsin-2 in neurons and features articles from the first and senior authors of the original paper along with a Q&A where a number of scientists reflect on the impact of optogenetics.

  • News & Comments - Learn about the impact and reach of optogenetics in these news and commentary articles from Nature-branded journals.

  • Research - Enjoy an editorially curated selection of articles published in the Nature-branded journals over the past decade, highlighting both tools that were added to the optogenetic toolkit and key biological insights revealed with these approaches.

  • Protocols - Browse through an editorially curated selection of experimental protocols related to optogenetics work published in the Nature-branded journals and elsewhere over the past decade.

  • Video - Take a guided tour of optogenetics with Nature Video.

 

Publication timeline for microbial opsins and optogenetics over 45 years. Figure from Deisseroth, K. Optogenetics: 10 years of microbial opsins in neuroscience, September 2015 issue of Nature Neuroscience.

Publication timeline for microbial opsins and optogenetics over 45 years.

The September 2015 issue of Nature Neuroscience celebrates the 10th anniversary of channelrhodopsin-2 in neurons and features articles from the first and senior authors of the original paper along with a Q&A where a number of scientists reflect on the impact of optogenetics.

 

ORIGINAL PAPER

Millisecond-timescale, genetically targeted optical control of neural activity

Edward S Boyden, Feng Zhang, Ernst Bamberg, Georg Nagel & Karl Deisseroth

Nature Neuroscience, doi:10.1038/nn1525

The original Technical Report from the September 2005 issue of Nature Neuroscience.
Full Text | PDF

 

EDITORIAL

ChR2 coming of age

Nature Neuroscience, doi:10.1038/nn.4103

10 years ago, channelrhodopsin-2 was expressed in neurons and shown to control their activity. Nature Neuroscience considers how the field has developed since these early optogenetic experiments.
Full Text | PDF

 

OVERVIEW

Optogenetics and the future of neuroscience

Edward S Boyden

Nature Neuroscience, doi:10.1038/nn.4094

Over ten years, optogenetics has become widespread. In this Overview, Ed Boyden argues that the full impact of optogenetics will emerge only when other toolsets mature and discusses how optogenetics has galvanized interest in neurotechnology development.
Full Text | PDF

 

Q & A

Optogenetics: 10 years after ChR2 in neurons—views from the community

Nature Neuroscience, doi:10.1038/nn.4106

The tight spatio-temporal control of neuronal activity in genetically defined populations of neurons has been a long-standing goal in neuroscience. Nature Neuroscience invited the community to reflect on the state of the field and how optogenetics has affected their work. In this Q&A, 34 scientists share their thoughts.
Full Text | PDF

 

HISTORICAL COMMENTARY

Optogenetics: 10 years of microbial opsins in neuroscience

Karl Deisseroth

Nature Neuroscience, doi:10.1038/nn.4091

Modern optogenetics emerged from converging developments in microbial opsin engineering, genetic methods for targeting, and optical strategies for light delivery. In this Historical Commentary, Karl Deisseroth reflects on the optogenetic landscape.
Full Text | PDF