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Probing Ion Channel Structure and Function Using Light-Sensitive Amino Acids
Viktoria Klippenstein1, Laetitia Mony1, Pierre Paoletti2
1Institut de Biologie de I'ENS (IBENS), CNRS UMR8197, INSERM U1024, Ecole Normale Supérieure, Université PSL, 46 rue d'Ulm, 75005 Paris, France; These authors contributed equally to this work.
Abstract:
Approaches to remotely control and monitor ion channel operation with light are expanding rapidly in the biophysics and neuroscience fields. A recent development directly introduces light sensitivity into proteins by utilizing photosensitive unnatural amino acids (UAAs) incorporated using the genetic code expansion technique. The introduction of UAAs results in unique molecular level control and, when combined with the maximal spatiotemporal resolution and poor invasiveness of light, enables direct manipulation and interrogation of ion channel functionality. Here, we review the diverse applications of light-sensitive UAAs in two superfamilies of ion channels (voltage- and ligand-gated ion channels; VGICs and LGICs) and summarize existing UAA tools, their mode of action, potential, caveats, and technical considerations to their use in illuminating ion channel structure and function.
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