From channelrhodopsins to optogenetics

Please always quote using this URN: urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-129036
  • We did not expect that research on the molecular mechanism of algal phototaxis or archaeal light‐driven ion transport might interest readers of a medical journal when we conceived and performed our experiments a decade ago. On the other hand, it did not escape our attention that channelrhodopsin is helping an ever‐increasing number of researchers to address their specific questions. For example, the channelrhodopsin approach is used to study the molecular events during the induction of synaptic plasticity or to map long‐range connections fromWe did not expect that research on the molecular mechanism of algal phototaxis or archaeal light‐driven ion transport might interest readers of a medical journal when we conceived and performed our experiments a decade ago. On the other hand, it did not escape our attention that channelrhodopsin is helping an ever‐increasing number of researchers to address their specific questions. For example, the channelrhodopsin approach is used to study the molecular events during the induction of synaptic plasticity or to map long‐range connections from one side of the brain to the other, and to map the spatial location of inputs on the dendritic tree of individual neurons. The current applications have been summarized in a number of recent reviews (Fenno et al, 2011; Yizhar et al, 2011; Zhang et al, 2011). Here, we give personal insight into the history of the discovery of channelrhodopsin and a biophysical perspective on this remarkable class of proteins that has been the main topic of our research since the 1990s.show moreshow less

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Metadaten
Author: Peter Hegemann, Georg Nagel
URN:urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-129036
Document Type:Journal article
Faculties:Fakultät für Biologie / Julius-von-Sachs-Institut für Biowissenschaften
Language:English
Parent Title (English):EMBO Molecular Medicine
Year of Completion:2013
Volume:5
Issue:2
Pagenumber:173-176
Source:EMBO Molecular Medicine (2013) 5, 173–176. doi:10.1002/emmm.201202387
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/emmm.201202387
Dewey Decimal Classification:6 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften / 61 Medizin und Gesundheit / 610 Medizin und Gesundheit
Release Date:2016/04/06
Licence (German):License LogoCC BY: Creative-Commons-Lizenz: Namensnennung