Photoreceptor and optogenetics research

Room-temperature light-state structure of the AsLOV2-Rac1 optogenetic actuator by sheet-on-sheet serial femtosecond crystallography

The paper reports room-temperature light-state structures of AsLOV2-Rac1 using serial femtosecond crystallography, revealing structural changes upon light activation.

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.

BOWIe: Wireless Headstage for Optical Stimulation in Closed-Loop Optogenetics Experiments in Freely-moving Rodents

BOWIe is a wireless headstage for optogenetics in freely-moving rodents, enabling simple integration with behavioral setups and closed-loop operation.

Structural basis of ultraviolet sensitivity and gating in an anion-conducting apusomonad rhodopsin

This study determines the cryo-EM structure of SfApuR2, an ultraviolet-sensitive anion-conducting rhodopsin, and identifies structural features that explain its UV sensitivity and gating mechanism.

Structural Basis for Near Infrared Absorption and Noncanonical Photoisomerization in Neorhodopsin

This study investigates the structural basis of near-infrared absorption and noncanonical photoisomerization in neorhodopsin using crystallographic, spectroscopic, and theoretical methods.

Multi-modal ion-transport function of potassium channelrhodopsins

This study demonstrates that potassium channelrhodopsins function as H+ pumps and channels, with their activity modulated by light and environmental ions.

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.

Viral Strategies for In Vivo Optogenetic Stimulation of Purkinje Cell Terminals and Electrophysiological Characterization of Downstream Cerebellar Nuclear Activity in Mice

This paper describes two viral strategies for optogenetic control of Purkinje cells and electrophysiological analysis of downstream cerebellar nuclear activity in mice.

Mice detect and discriminate temporal patterns of mesoscale optogenetic cortical stimulation

The paper shows mice can detect and discriminate artificial percepts from mesoscale optogenetic cortical stimulation in an operant task.

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.

Unusual photochemical characteristics of a novel BLUF-like protein from fungus

The paper investigates a fungal BLUF-like protein, MmBLUF, revealing its conserved structure but unusual photochemical properties not linked to the extended N-terminus.

Optogenetic Control of cAMP Levels and HCN Channels: Implications in Cardiac Physiology and Parkinsons Disease

This study uses optogenetics to control cAMP and HCN channels in cardiac and Parkinson's disease models, showing effects on heart rate and motor function.

Structural divergence in protein evolution of a photoreceptor family undetected by AlphaFold is observed by high sensitivity FT-IR spectroscopy

The paper uses ancestral sequence reconstruction and FTIR spectroscopy to reveal structural divergence in PYP proteins undetected by AlphaFold.

Covalent bond formation caught in a LOV photoreceptor

This paper resolves the mechanism of covalent bond formation in a LOV photoreceptor using time-resolved crystallography and spectroscopy, revealing a water-mediated proton transfer that accelerates the reaction by fourteen orders of magnitude.

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.

A highly Ca2+-permeable channelrhodopsin from the ancyromonad Nutomonas longa enables optogenetic control of Ca2+ signaling

This paper identifies NlCCR, a channelrhodopsin from Nutomonas longa, which enables precise optical control of Ca2+ signaling with improved properties compared to existing tools.

Crystal structures of a far-red photoreceptor in different light-absorbing states: insights into spectral tuning and light signaling

This paper reports crystal structures of a far-red CBCR in three light-absorbing states, revealing new insights into spectral tuning and light signaling mechanisms through protein-chromophore interactions.

Optogenetic Regulation of Mitochondrial Function to Modulate Cell Death

This study uses optogenetic methods to induce cell death by manipulating mitochondrial function through light-sensitive proteins, showing potential for therapeutic applications in diseases with abnormal cell survival.

Ultrafast X-Rays Capture Retinal Traversing Conical Intersection in Rhodopsin

This study uses ultrafast X-ray scattering to observe retinal cis-trans isomerization in rhodopsin, revealing how cofactor dynamics drive activation without crystal lattice constraints.

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.

Photoswitchable optoGPCRs for reversible control of Gs and arrestin signalling

This paper introduces optoDRD1, a photoswitchable optoGPCR that reversibly controls Gs and arrestin signaling using distinct wavelengths of light.

AI-enabled rhodopsin design for blue-light enhanced bacterial growth

This study uses AI to design novel microbial rhodopsins that absorb blue light and enhance bacterial growth.

Image modifications reduce differences in natural-image encoding by retinal ganglion cells between natural and optogenetic stimulation

The paper shows that modifying images used for optogenetic stimulation can make retinal ganglion cell responses more similar to natural photoreceptor-driven responses in mice.

Computational design of microbial and animal rhodopsin soluble analogues

This study computationally designs soluble analogues of animal and microbial rhodopsins, showing they are well-folded, thermostable, and retain retinal photocycle functionality.

Engineering a light-responsive, orthogonal Lon protease in E. coli for targeted protein degradation

The paper develops a light-responsive, orthogonal Lon protease in E. coli for targeted protein degradation, showing it can degrade proteins in both growth phases and respond to light intensity.

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.

Electrically programmable picoscale phototransduction of a newly discovered microbial rhodopsin

This study demonstrates the functional reconstitution of TARA76, a microbial rhodopsin, in an artificial membrane and shows its sensitivity to Na+ ions and electric field control.