Referenced in: none

Automatically associated channels: Slo1

Title: Light generation of intracellular Ca(2+) signals by a genetically encoded protein BACCS.

Authors: Tomohiro Ishii, Koji Sato, Toshiyuki Kakumoto, Shigenori Miura, Kazushige Touhara, Shoji Takeuchi, Takao Nakata

Journal, date & volume: Nat Commun, 2015 , 6, 8021

PubMed link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26282514

Abstract
Ca(2+) signals are highly regulated in a spatiotemporal manner in numerous cellular physiological events. Here we report a genetically engineered blue light-activated Ca(2+) channel switch (BACCS), as an optogenetic tool for generating Ca(2+) signals. BACCS opens Ca(2+)-selective ORAI ion channels in response to light. A BACCS variant, dmBACCS2, combined with Drosophila Orai, elevates the Ca(2+) concentration more rapidly, such that Ca(2+) elevation in mammalian cells is observed within 1 s on light exposure. Using BACCSs, we successfully control cellular events including NFAT-mediated gene expression. In the mouse olfactory system, BACCS mediates light-dependent electrophysiological responses. Furthermore, we generate BACCS mutants, which exhibit fast and slow recovery of intracellular Ca(2+). Thus, BACCSs are a useful optogenetic tool for generating temporally various intracellular Ca(2+) signals with a large dynamic range, and will be applicable to both in vitro and in vivo studies.