Technical Report abstract


Nature Neuroscience 12, 229 - 234 (2008)
Published online: 8 December 2008 | doi:10.1038/nn.2247

Bi-stable neural state switches

André Berndt1,5, Ofer Yizhar2,5, Lisa A Gunaydin2,3,5, Peter Hegemann1 & Karl Deisseroth2,4


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.

Top
  1. Institute of Biology, Experimental Biophysics, Humboldt-University, Invalidenstras zlige 42, D-10115 Berlin, Germany.
  2. Department of Bioengineering, Behavioral Sciences, W083 Clark Center, 318 Campus Drive West, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA.
  3. Neuroscience Program, Behavioral Sciences, W083 Clark Center, 318 Campus Drive West, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA.
  4. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, W083 Clark Center, 318 Campus Drive West, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA.
  5. These authors contributed equally to this work.

Correspondence to: Peter Hegemann1 hegemape@rz.hu-berlin.de

Correspondence to: Karl Deisseroth2,4 deissero@stanford.edu



MORE ARTICLES LIKE THIS

These links to content published by NPG are automatically generated.

NEWS AND VIEWS

Sensory and energy transduction: Light-activated retinal proteins

Nature News and Views (06 Dec 1984)


Extra navigation

Subscribe to Nature Neuroscience

Subscribe

Open Innovation Challenges

naturejobs

natureproducts


ADVERTISEMENT