Channelrhodopsin colour tuning

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Channclrhodopsins (ChRs) are directly light-gated ion channels of green algae. In the neurosciences ChRs are used for excitafion of selected cells in neuronal tissues or living animals simply by light (Optogenefics). Such method opens wide perspecfives for specific acfivation of defined cells in the brain and to study neuronal disorders. Recently wc achieved to fiincfionally express ChR in COScells and to analyse the photocycle in detail ChRI ofthe colonial alga Volvox carteri showed an absorption 70 nm rcd shifted (535 nm) compared to that of Chlamydomonas ChR2 (Xmax- 465 nm). In the project we arc applying for we aim to design new ChRs with absorpfion maxima covering the whole visible range from 400 to 600 nm. The design will be based on theoretical calculafions and spectroscopic studies primarily on Volvox-ChRl but also on Chlamdomonas ChR2. Funcfionality of the new proteins will be studied using electrophysiology and spectroscopy. Finally, the new proteins will be tested in hippocampal cells and animal model systems.