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Published on: October 27, 2023
Lateral Gene Transfer of Anion-Conducting Channelrhodopsins between Green Algae and Giant Viruses
Andrey Rozenberg1, Johannes Oppermann2, Jonas Wietek2
1Faculty of Biology, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel.
Abstract:
Channelrhodopsins (ChRs) are light-gated ion channels widely used as optogenetic tools for manipulating neuronal activity. The currently characterized ChR families include green algal and cryptophyte cation-conducting ChRs (CCRs) and cryptophyte, haptophyte, and stramenopile anion-conducting ChRs (ACRs). Here, we report the discovery of a new family of phylogenetically distinct ChRs encoded by marine giant viruses and acquired from their unicellular green algal hosts. These previously unknown viral and green algal ChRs act as ACRs when expressed in cultured neuroblastoma-derived cells and are likely involved in behavioral responses to light.
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