Development of New Light-Sensitive Protein Tools for Neuroscience Applications

Rhodopsins are light sensitive retinal proteins that function as light triggered sensors, ion pumps or ion channels. It has been shown that light-gated ion conducted rhodopsins (channelrhodopsins) are useful in particular to control trans-membrane ion fluxes and/or membrane potential of animal cells in culture, tissues or living species, simply by illumination (optogentics). The application of channelrhodopsin to remotely control neural activity has sparked the search for the new rhodopsin(s) with different spectral properties and ion selectivity as well as the search for light modulated enzymes. Recently, we have analyzed newly sequenced algal genome (Chlamydomonas, Volvox etc.) database and identified several new channelrhodopsins and rhodopsin sequences with potential enzymatic activity. In the proposed subject we would like to characterize these new rhodopsins and explore their potential for applications as light-sensitive protein tools in neuroscience. With such a project we could provide novel optical tools to control ionic and electrical activity as well as enzymatic activities in the neuronal system in a non-invasive manner.