Photoreceptor and optogenetics research

Zapit: Open Source Laser-Scanning Photostimulation For Neuroscience

Zapit provides an open-source platform for random-access laser-scanning optogenetics in mice, enabling user-friendly and accessible experiments.

A bistable UV-sensitive opsin from a reef building coral showing a switchable and tunable regulation of Gs-signaling by different wavelengths of light

The paper characterizes and engineers a bistable cnidopsin from a coral that can switch between states using different light wavelengths, showing potential as an optogenetic tool for regulating Gs-signaling.

Fabrication and Use of a 32-Well LED-Embedded Microplate for Optogenetic Dynamic Control

This paper describes the fabrication and use of a 32-well LED-embedded microplate (LEMOS 2.0) for optogenetic stimulation and gene expression measurement in microbial cultures.

An ultra-low background far-red light-responsive optogenetic tool based on an engineered biliverdin-binding domain

The paper develops a small, monomeric, far-red light-responsive optogenetic tool with high affinity and low background binding for use in mammalian cells.

Mutation E300 recommended by protein language models gives ChrimsonR amplified photocurrent response

The paper uses protein language models to predict ChrimsonR mutations that enhance photocurrent response, validating two mutations that significantly improve function.

An orthogonal near-infrared optical switch for wireless neuromodulation in freely behaving mice

This paper introduces a Dual-NIR Switch using near-infrared light to control neuronal activity in mice without sustained illumination, enabling on-demand neuromodulation.

Perturbation of nuclear proteins by optogenetic trapping in Drosophila ovary

This study introduces NLS-LARIAT, an optogenetic tool to cluster nuclear proteins in Drosophila ovarian cells, revealing their roles in migration and nuclear structure.

Dimer asymmetry in signaling of blue-light sensor histidine kinases

The paper investigates dimer asymmetry in blue-light sensor histidine kinases by combining structural and functional analyses to reveal light-dependent conformational changes.

Resurrecting Full-length Ancestral Schizorhodopsins and Heliorhodopsins with Structure-guided, Indel-aware Sequence Reconstruction

This study resurrects full-length ancestral microbial rhodopsins using indel-aware sequence reconstruction, enabling experimental testing of their functional evolution.

The protein turnover and trafficking of Chlamyopsin6 is regulated by IFT88 and IFT52 in the Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

This study investigates the trafficking and turnover of Chlamyopsin6 in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, showing its dependence on IFT88 and IFT52 for stability and flagellar targeting.

Kinetic properties of optogenetic site-specific DNA recombination by LiCre-loxP

This paper characterizes the kinetic properties of the optogenetic LiCre-loxP system using in vitro and in vivo experiments, revealing temperature-dependent efficiency and a model for recombination synapse formation.

Functional interrogation of neuronal connections by chemoptogenetic presynaptic ablation

The paper develops a method to ablate specific synaptic connections in neurons using optogenetic tools, demonstrating its application in zebrafish to disrupt functional connectivity and observe behavioral effects.

Projection-Specific Intersectional Optogenetics for Precise Excitation and Inhibition in the Marmoset Brain

The paper develops an optogenetic method to selectively excite and inhibit projection-specific neurons in marmosets, enabling precise modulation of neural circuits.

Protocol for intra-nerve AAV injection and dorsal root potential recording for optogenetic modulation of the peripheral sensory nerve activity

Magneto-Photonic Gene Circuit for Minimally Invasive Control of Gene Expression in Mammalian Cells

The paper develops a gene circuit that uses light and magnetic stimuli to control gene expression in mammalian cells.

Light-directed evolution of dynamic, multi-state, and computational protein functionalities

This paper introduces optovolution, a directed evolution method using light and cell cycle oscillations to evolve dynamic protein functionalities, and demonstrates its application in yeast.

Time-Resolved Resonance Raman Spectroscopy of Retinal Proteins with Continuous-Wave Excitation. A Fundamental Methodology Revisited.

This paper revisits time-resolved resonance Raman spectroscopy with continuous-wave excitation, adapting it to modern equipment for studying retinal proteins.

Single-cell characterization of bacterial optogenetic Cre recombinases

This study compares three bacterial optogenetic Cre recombinase variants at the single-cell level, revealing heterogeneous activity and reporter-dependent performance.

The bacterial schizorhodopsins: novel light-driven inward proton pumps from Antarctic Minisyncoccota (Patescibacteria) and cyanobacteria, with implications for the proton-pumping mechanism

The paper identifies and characterizes two novel bacterial schizorhodopsins from Antarctic sources, demonstrating their inward proton-pumping activity and revealing distinct evolutionary and functional features.

Desensitization of opsin responses during all-optical interrogation depends on imaging parameters

This study shows that two-photon imaging at 920 nm during optogenetic stimulation increases opsin desensitization in C1V1-expressing neurons, affecting both targeted and non-targeted cells.

Red-light-only control of protein-protein interactions using a cyanobacteriochrome (UNICYCL)

This paper introduces a small red-light-responsive system for controlling protein-protein interactions using a cyanobacteriochrome, showing a >25-fold decrease in binding affinity under red light.

In silico characterization of unique fungal modular rhodopsin expands the horizon of novel optobiological and biomedical applications

The paper identifies novel fungal modular rhodopsins through in-silico analysis and suggests their potential roles in light-driven signaling and biosynthetic regulation.

Screening channelrhodopsins using robotic intracellularelectrophysiology and single cell sequencing

The paper introduces a method combining robotic electrophysiology and single-cell sequencing to link opsin sequences to their functional properties, demonstrating its efficiency over manual methods.

Bridging Evolution and Design: Mapping the Diversity of LOV Photosensors

The paper maps the photodynamic diversity of LOV domains, revealing kinetic diversity and functional classes, and demonstrates computational design of new LOV photosensors.

Functional insights into the photoactive yellow protein family from homologs, multidomain proteins and inferred pyp operons

The paper identifies 984 PYP homologs and uses bioinformatics to find candidate proteins involved in PYP signal transduction, including histidine kinase and GGDEF/EAL proteins.

Chemical mechanism of allosteric and asymmetric dark reversion in a bacterial phytochrome uncovered by cryo-EM.

This paper uses cryo-EM to study dark reversion in PaBphP, revealing asymmetric reversion between protomers and structural mechanisms controlling the reaction.

Light-harvesting by antenna-containing xanthorhodopsin from an Antarctic cyanobacterium

The paper identifies widespread xanthorhodopsin genes in cyanobacteria and characterizes a unique variant from an Antarctic cyanobacterium that binds hydroxylated lutein, enhancing light-harvesting efficiency in extreme environments.

Opsins are Phospholipid Scramblases in All Domains of Life

The paper shows bacterial opsins function as phospholipid scramblases, independent of retinal, and highlights shared functions across domains of life.

Novel algal modular LOV domain proteins expand opto-biotechnological avenues for controlling of eukaryotic riboswitching, translational and proteolytic processes.

The paper identifies 13 novel algal LOV domain proteins with potential applications in opto-biotechnology for controlling translational, ribogenetic, and proteolytic processes.

Stabilized ion selectivity corrects activation drift in kalium channelrhodopsins

The paper identifies a KCR1 variant, C29D, that maintains stable potassium selectivity and provides reliable optogenetic inhibition across species and conditions.