Referenced in: none

Automatically associated channels: Kir2.3

Title: Red-shifted optogenetic excitation: a tool for fast neural control derived from Volvox carteri.

Authors: Feng Zhang, Matthias Prigge, Florent Beyrière, Satoshi P Tsunoda, Joanna Mattis, Ofer Yizhar, Peter Hegemann, Karl Deisseroth

Journal, date & volume: Nat. Neurosci., 2008 Jun , 11, 631-3

PubMed link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18432196

Abstract
The introduction of two microbial opsin-based tools, channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) and halorhodopsin (NpHR), to neuroscience has generated interest in fast, multimodal, cell type-specific neural circuit control. Here we describe a cation-conducting channelrhodopsin (VChR1) from Volvox carteri that can drive spiking at 589 nm, with excitation maximum red-shifted approximately 70 nm compared with ChR2. These results demonstrate fast photostimulation with yellow light, thereby defining a functionally distinct third category of microbial rhodopsin proteins.