Channelrhodopsin colour tuning

通道视紫红质(CHRs)是绿藻的直接光门离子通道。在神经科学中，CHRs被用来简单地通过光(光遗传学)刺激神经组织或活着的动物中选定的细胞。这种方法为大脑中特定细胞的特定激活和研究神经元障碍开辟了广阔的前景。最近，WC成功地在COS细胞中表达了ChR，并对其光周期进行了详细的分析，结果表明，与衣藻ChR2相比，Volvox carteri的光吸收波长发生了70 nm的RCD位移(xmax-465 nm)。在我们正在申请的项目中，我们的目标是设计一种新型的CHRS，其最大吸收峰覆盖从400到600 nm的整个可见光范围。该设计将基于理论计算和光谱研究，主要针对Volvox-ChR1，但也将基于衣藻Chr2。将使用电生理学和光谱学来研究新蛋白质的功能。最后，新的蛋白质将在海马细胞和动物模型系统中进行测试。

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.