Optogenetics (method overview)
Deisseroth summarized the origins and uses of optogenetics as Nature Methods' Method of the Year.
As reported in: Deisseroth (2010). Optogenetics. Nature Methods. doi:10.1038/nmeth.f.324
Optogenetics (light-controlled proteins): uses in research
Also: channelrhodopsin, Chlamydomonas algae proteins, light-switchable gene expression, EL222
Optogenetics uses light-sensitive proteins, first found in the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, to switch cells on and off with light. Related tools use light to turn genes on and off. It is mainly a research tool in neuroscience and synthetic biology.
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biology
Channelrhodopsin-1 from green algae
Nagel and colleagues showed a light-sensitive protein from Chlamydomonas algae acts as a light-gated channel.
As reported in: Nagel, Ollig, Fuhrmann et al. (2002). Channelrhodopsin-1: A Light-Gated Proton Channel in Green Algae. Science. doi:10.1126/science.1072068
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Channelrhodopsin-2
Nagel and colleagues described channelrhodopsin-2, a directly light-gated cation channel that later became the main optogenetics tool.
As reported in: Nagel, Szellas, Huhn et al. (2003). Channelrhodopsin-2, a directly light-gated cation-selective membrane channel. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. doi:10.1073/pnas.1936192100
Controlling neurons with light
Boyden and colleagues used channelrhodopsin-2 to make neurons fire with millisecond precision using light.
Built / tested: light-controlled neurons
As reported in: Boyden, Zhang, Bamberg et al. (2005). Millisecond-timescale, genetically targeted optical control of neural activity. Nature Neuroscience. doi:10.1038/nn1525
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Light-switchable gene promoter
Shimizu-Sato and colleagues built a plant phytochrome-based system that switches gene expression on and off with red and far-red light in yeast.
Built / tested: light-switchable gene system
As reported in: Shimizu-Sato, Huq, Tepperman et al. (2002). A light-switchable gene promoter system. Nature Biotechnology. doi:10.1038/nbt734
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EL222 light-activated gene switch
Motta-Mena and colleagues adapted the bacterial LOV-domain protein EL222 to turn genes on with blue light and off quickly in the dark.
Built / tested: blue-light gene switch
As reported in: Motta-Mena, Reade, Mallory et al. (2014). An optogenetic gene expression system with rapid activation and deactivation kinetics. Nature Chemical Biology. doi:10.1038/nchembio.1430