Photoreceptor and optogenetics research

Molecular characterization of unique multi-domain harbouring fungal rhodopsin for establishing their novel opto-synthetic biological usages

The paper identifies novel modular rhodopsins in fungi and explores their potential opto-biotechnological applications through structural, functional, and interactome analyses.

RubyACRs Enable Red-Shifted Optogenetic Inhibition in Freely Behaving Drosophila

This study evaluates RubyACRs as red-shifted optogenetic inhibitors in Drosophila, showing they effectively hyperpolarize neurons and induce circuit-specific behavioral changes.

Discovery of excited state proton transfer in flavin-based fluorescent protein with large Stokes shift

The paper discovers a flavin-based fluorescent protein, LSSFbFP, with a large Stokes shift, achieved through excited state proton transfer, and validates its mechanism using spectroscopy and crystallography.

Light-harvesting by antenna-containing rhodopsins in pelagic Asgard archaea

The paper reports light energy transfer from hydroxylated carotenoids to heimdallarchaeial rhodopsins in marine archaea, showing light-harvesting capabilities in archaea similar to bacterial rhodopsins.

Development of visible light-sensitive human OPN5 via single amino acid substitution

This study identifies a key amino acid in human OPN5 responsible for UV sensitivity and develops visible light-sensitive variants through site-directed mutagenesis.

Forward Engineering Organ Development and Cancer Therapeutics with Optogenetics

This study uses optogenetics to control organ growth in Drosophila by manipulating calcium signaling, revealing how light intensity and timing affect organ size and tumor morphology.

Dual-color optical activation and suppression of neurons with high temporal precision

This paper introduces a dual-color optogenetic system that enables high-frequency neuronal activation with red light and precise suppression with blue light.

Molecular plasticity in the flavin binding pocket of BLUF domain evolves first light-gated endonuclease in bacterial system

The paper studies how evolutionary changes in the BLUF domain of Rubellimicrobium mesophilum affect photodynamics and endonuclease activity, revealing a light-gated endonuclease mechanism.

Modular Engineering of Thermo-Responsive Allosteric Proteins

This paper engineers thermo-responsive allosteric proteins using temperature-sensitive domains, enabling precise control of protein activity in both bacterial and mammalian systems.

Red Light-Activated Reversible Inhibition of Protein Functions by Assembled Trap

The paper introduces R-LARIAT, a red light-induced protein clustering system that inhibits protein functions in HeLa cells by trapping GFP-tagged proteins, demonstrating high efficiency and stability.

Bidirectional Optogenetic Modulations of Peripheral Sensory Nerve Activity: Induction vs. Suppression through Channelrhodopsin and Halorhodopsin

This study demonstrates optogenetic modulation of peripheral sensory nerve activity in rats, showing induction and suppression of large-diameter afferents using ChR2 and eNpHR3.0.

Two-photon activation, deactivation, and coherent control of melanopsin in live cells

This paper demonstrates two-photon activation and modulation of melanopsin in live cells to study its tri-stability and function.

Optogenetic tools for inducing organelle membrane rupture

This paper develops optogenetic tools to induce membrane rupture of specific organelles using engineered BAX proteins with light-sensitive domains.

In-vivo optogenetic manipulation approach for gerbil medial nucleus of trapezoid body

This study develops an in-vivo optogenetic method to control MNTB activity in gerbils with fast and precise temporal control, enabling research on sound localization.

Exploring the Modularity of Thalassiosira oceanica Aureochrome1 Photoreceptor-Transcription Factor: Characterization and Component Engineering

This study characterizes the blue-light responsive photoreceptor-transcription factor ToAureo1 from Thalassiosira oceanica and explores its modular properties for synthetic biology applications.

MuFIX - Enabling Combinations of Concurrent Optogenetics and Lock-in Amplification Fiber Photometry via Removal of Optogenetic Stimulation Crosstalk

MuFIX recovers crosstalk-contaminated photometry responses by interpolating across contaminated segments using multi-frequency lock-in amplification, accurately restoring original signals.

Multimodal characterization and optogenetic potential of the bistable Gi/o-coupled vertebrate ancient opsin from the flashlight fish Anomalops katoptron

This study characterizes AkVAL, a bistable opsin from the flashlight fish, showing its ability to control neuronal activity and body movement in response to light cycles, suggesting its potential as an optogenetic tool.

Characterization and engineering of a blue-sensitive, Gi/o-biased, and bistable ciliary opsin from a fan worm

This paper characterizes a blue-sensitive, Gi/o-biased, and bistable ciliary opsin from a fan worm and explores its spectral and signaling properties through mutagenesis.

BlueBerry: Closed-loop wireless optogenetic manipulation in freely moving animals

BlueBerry is a wireless optogenetic device for real-time, closed-loop manipulation of neuronal activity in freely moving animals, enabling scalable studies of social behavior and decision-making.

Two-photon driven photoprotection mechanism in echinenone-functionalized Orange Carotenoid Protein

The paper demonstrates that echinenone-functionalized OCP requires two photons for photoprotection, revealing a sequential 2-photon absorption mechanism unique to a single biological photoreceptor.

Suppression of epileptic seizures by transcranial activation of K+-selective channelrhodopsin

This study develops a K+-selective channelrhodopsin for transcranial optogenetic inhibition of neuronal activity, showing reduced seizure activity in mouse models.

Photophysics-informed two-photon voltage imaging using FRET-opsin voltage indicators

The paper investigates the photophysics of FRET-opsin voltage indicators and demonstrates two-photon voltage imaging in live mice using optimized protocols.

Engineering of soluble bacteriorhodopsin

This paper describes the engineering of soluble bacteriorhodopsin analogues and reports their crystal structure, demonstrating the potential of protein engineering for developing molecular tools.

Light-dependent modulation of protein localization and function in living bacteria cells

This study shows that the CRY2/CIB1 system can be used to precisely control protein localization in E. coli, enabling manipulation of cellular functions like cytokinesis.

Structural insights into the opening mechanism of C1C2 channelrhodopsin

This study uses time-resolved crystallography and MD simulations to reveal structural changes in C1C2 channelrhodopsin during activation, showing how conformational shifts enable ion conduction.

Coral anthozoan-specific opsins employ a novel chloride counterion for spectral tuning

This study identifies a novel chloride counterion mechanism in coral opsins that stabilizes the Schiff base proton, enabling light sensitivity without a traditional counterion residue.

A modular toolbox for the optogenetic deactivation of transcription

The paper introduces LOOMINA, an optogenetic system that deactivates transcriptional activation in response to blue light, offering high adaptability and compatibility with various effector proteins.

A sensitive red/far-red photoswitch for controllable gene therapy in mouse models of metabolic diseases

This paper develops a red/far-red light-inducible photoswitch system for optogenetic control of gene expression in mice, demonstrating its application in treating metabolic diseases.

Local disorder is associated with enhanced catalysis in a nascent photoswitch

This study investigates how domain insertion in a synthetic enzyme fusion enables light-induced allosteric regulation through localized conformational changes and bidirectional domain coupling.

Overexpression of enhanced yellow fluorescent protein fused with Channelrhodopsin-2 causes contractile dysfunction in skeletal muscle

This study shows that overexpressing ChR2-EYFP in skeletal muscle causes contractile dysfunction, while ChR2-only mice show normal function, highlighting the need for alternative optogenetic models.