WiChR, a highly potassium-selective channelrhodopsin for low-light one- and two-photon inhibition of excitable cells

Archive ouverte

Vierock, Johannes | Peter, Enrico | Grimm, Christiane | Rozenberg, Andrey | Chen, I-Wen | Tillert, Linda | Castro Scalise, Alejandro | Casini, Marilù | Augustin, Sandra | Tanese, Dimitrii | Forget, Benoît | Peyronnet, Rémi | Schneider-Warme, Franziska | Emiliani, Valentina | Béjà, Oded | Hegemann, Peter

Edité par CCSD ; American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) -

International audience. The electric excitability of muscle, heart, and brain tissue relies on the precise interplay of Na + - and K + -selective ion channels. The involved ion fluxes are controlled in optogenetic studies using light-gated channelrhodopsins (ChRs). While non-selective cation-conducting ChRs are well established for excitation, K + -selective ChRs (KCRs) for efficient inhibition have only recently come into reach. Here, we report the molecular analysis of recently discovered KCRs from the stramenopile Hyphochytrium catenoides and identification of a novel type of hydrophobic K + selectivity filter. Next, we demonstrate that the KCR signature motif is conserved in related stramenopile ChRs. Among them, WiChR from Wobblia lunata features a so far unmatched preference for K + over Na + , stable photocurrents under continuous illumination, and a prolonged open-state lifetime. Showing high expression levels in cardiac myocytes and neurons, WiChR allows single- and two-photon inhibition at low irradiance and reduced tissue heating. Therefore, we recommend WiChR as the long-awaited efficient and versatile optogenetic inhibitor.

• Description
• Sujet/Public
• Outil
• Outil d'anticipation
• Mémoire et thèse
• Gestion