Nathan C. Shaner

Control of Synaptic Communication through Molecularly Engineered Bioluminescence Light Emission and Sensing

This paper introduces a modular platform called Interluminescence that uses bioluminescent light to control synaptic transmission by activating optogenetic ion channels in postsynaptic neurons.

A Bioluminescent Activity Dependent Platform, BLADe, for Converting Intracellular Activity to Photoreceptor Activation

The paper introduces BLADe, a platform that converts intracellular activity into photoreceptor activation using bioluminescent sensors and actuators, demonstrating its use in neurons for activity-dependent gene expression and neural dynamics control.

CaBLAM! A high-contrast bioluminescent Ca2+ indicator derived from an engineered Oplophorus gracilirostris luciferase

This paper introduces CaBLAM, a bioluminescent Ca2+ indicator with improved dynamic range and Ca2+ affinity, enabling high-resolution imaging of cellular activity in cultured neurons and in vivo.

Engineering luminopsins with improved coupling efficiencies

This study evaluates factors affecting luminopsin efficacy and identifies strategies to improve their function through molecular evolution.

Bioluminescent Genetically Encoded Glutamate Indicator for Molecular Imaging of Neuronal Activity

The paper develops a bioluminescent genetically encoded glutamate indicator for in vivo neuronal activity monitoring without requiring external light sources.

A New Highly Efficient Molecule for Both Optogenetic and Chemogenetic Control Driven by FRET Amplification of BioLuminescence

The paper introduces a new bioluminescent optogenetic molecule (LMO7) that enhances chemogenetic activation efficacy compared to existing variants, showing improved neuronal activity modulation and behavioral control.

Selective Control of Synaptically-Connected Circuit Elements by All-Optical Synapses

The paper introduces a method to control synaptically connected neurons using bioluminescent light, validated in cultured neurons and mice.