TY  - JOUR
A1  - Scholz, Nicole
A1  - Guan, Chonglin
A1  - Nieberler, Matthias
A1  - Grotmeyer, Alexander
A1  - Maiellaro, Isabella
A1  - Gao, Shiqiang
A1  - Beck, Sebastian
A1  - Pawlak, Matthias
A1  - Sauer, Markus
A1  - Asan, Esther
A1  - Rothemund, Sven
A1  - Winkler, Jana
A1  - Prömel, Simone
A1  - Nagel, Georg
A1  - Langenhan, Tobias
A1  - Kittel, Robert J
T1  - Mechano-dependent signaling by Latrophilin/CIRL quenches cAMP in proprioceptive neurons
JF  - eLife
N2  - Adhesion-type G protein-coupled receptors (aGPCRs), a large molecule family with over 30 members in humans, operate in organ development, brain function and govern immunological responses. Correspondingly, this receptor family is linked to a multitude of diverse human diseases. aGPCRs have been suggested to possess mechanosensory properties, though their mechanism of action is fully unknown. Here we show that the Drosophila aGPCR Latrophilin/dCIRL acts in mechanosensory neurons by modulating ionotropic receptor currents, the initiating step of cellular mechanosensation. This process depends on the length of the extended ectodomain and the tethered agonist of the receptor, but not on its autoproteolysis, a characteristic biochemical feature of the aGPCR family. Intracellularly, dCIRL quenches cAMP levels upon mechanical activation thereby specifically increasing the mechanosensitivity of neurons. These results provide direct evidence that the aGPCR dCIRL acts as a molecular sensor and signal transducer that detects and converts mechanical stimuli into a metabotropic response.
KW  - Latrophilin
KW  - adhesion GPCR
KW  - dCIRL
KW  - sensory physiology
KW  - metabotropic signalling
KW  - mechanotransduction
Y1  - 2017
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-170520
VL  - 6
IS  - e28360
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Beck, Sebastian
A1  - Yu-Strzelczyk, Jing
A1  - Pauls, Dennis
A1  - Constantin, Oana M.
A1  - Gee, Christine E.
A1  - Ehmann, Nadine
A1  - Kittel, Robert J.
A1  - Nagel, Georg
A1  - Gao, Shiqiang
T1  - Synthetic light-activated ion channels for optogenetic activation and inhibition
JF  - Frontiers in Neuroscience
N2  - Optogenetic manipulation of cells or living organisms became widely used in neuroscience following the introduction of the light-gated ion channel channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2). ChR2 is a non-selective cation channel, ideally suited to depolarize and evoke action potentials in neurons. However, its calcium (Ca2\(^{2+}\)) permeability and single channel conductance are low and for some applications longer-lasting increases in intracellular Ca\(^{2+}\) might be desirable. Moreover, there is need for an efficient light-gated potassium (K\(^{+}\)) channel that can rapidly inhibit spiking in targeted neurons. Considering the importance of Ca\(^{2+}\) and K\(^{+}\) in cell physiology, light-activated Ca\(^{2+}\)-permeant and K\(^{+}\)-specific channels would be welcome additions to the optogenetic toolbox. Here we describe the engineering of novel light-gated Ca\(^{2+}\)-permeant and K\(^{+}\)-specific channels by fusing a bacterial photoactivated adenylyl cyclase to cyclic nucleotide-gated channels with high permeability for Ca\(^{2+}\) or for K\(^{+}\), respectively. Optimized fusion constructs showed strong light-gated conductance in Xenopus laevis oocytes and in rat hippocampal neurons. These constructs could also be used to control the motility of Drosophila melanogaster larvae, when expressed in motoneurons. Illumination led to body contraction when motoneurons expressed the light-sensitive Ca\(^{2+}\)-permeant channel, and to body extension when expressing the light-sensitive K\(^{+}\) channel, both effectively and reversibly paralyzing the larvae. Further optimization of these constructs will be required for application in adult flies since both constructs led to eclosion failure when expressed in motoneurons.
KW  - optogenetics
KW  - calcium
KW  - potassium
KW  - bPAC
KW  - CNG channel
KW  - cAMP
KW  - Drosophila melanogaster motoneuron
KW  - rat hippocampal neurons
Y1  - 2018
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-177520
VL  - 12
IS  - 643
ER  -