Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Synapses in the spotlight with synthetic optogenetics.

Shai Berlin1, Ehud Y Isacoff2,3,4

  • 1The Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion- Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel shai.berlin@technion.ac.il.

EMBO Reports
|April 12, 2017
PubMed
Summary

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

War is not a pandemic : The collapse of scientific continuity under constant attack.

EMBO reports·2026
Same author

Kv4.2 Channels at the Crossroads of Excitability, Plasticity, and Synaptic Signaling.

The Neuroscientist : a review journal bringing neurobiology, neurology and psychiatry·2025
Same author

Reversible Antagonism of Dopamine D1 Receptor Using a Photoswitchable Remotely Tethered Ligand.

ACS chemical biology·2025
Same author

Deficiency in transmitter release triggers homeostatic transcriptional changes that increase presynaptic excitability.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2025
Same author

Reversible Antagonism of Dopamine D1 Receptor using a Photoswitchable Remotely Tethered Ligand.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2025
Same author

Balanced synapse-to-synapse short-term plasticity ensures constant transmitter release.

Current biology : CB·2025

Synthetic optogenetics enables precise remote control of native neuronal receptors and ion channels using light. This method allows researchers to study neuronal signaling mechanisms with high spatial and temporal accuracy.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Membrane receptors and ion channels are crucial for neuronal function, mediating responses to stimuli.
  • Understanding neuronal physiology and pathophysiology requires precise control over these cellular components.
  • Optogenetics offers remote light-based control of neuronal populations, but typically not native channels.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the development of synthetic optogenetics for studying neuronal receptors and channels.
  • To explore how synthetic optogenetics enables photoregulation of endogenous neuronal components.
  • To discuss tool design, mechanisms, applications, and achievements in the field.

Main Methods:

  • Endowing endogenous neuronal receptors and channels with light sensitivity using photoswitches.
Keywords:
native receptorsneuronsoptogeneticsphotoswitchessynthetic optogenetics

Related Experiment Videos

  • Utilizing synthetic molecules to create light-receptive neuronal components.
  • Applying optical techniques for remote control and investigation.

    • Main Results:

    • Synthetic optogenetics allows precise spatial and temporal control over native neuronal receptors and channels.
    • This method provides access to native signaling mechanisms within neurons, including synapses.
    • It offers a powerful tool for studying neuronal function in its natural environment.

    Conclusions:

    • Synthetic optogenetics is a key advancement for remotely studying neuronal receptors and ion channels.
    • It bridges the gap left by traditional optogenetics by targeting endogenous components.
    • The technique holds promise for future clinical applications and deepened understanding of the nervous system.