Emerging Diversity of Channelrhodopsins and Their Structure-Function Relationships
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Updated: Oct 4, 2025

Whole-cell Patch-clamp Recordings for Electrophysiological Determination of Ion Selectivity in Channelrhodopsins
Published on: May 22, 2017
Elena G Govorunova1, Oleg A Sineshchekov1, John L Spudich1
1Center for Membrane Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, United States.
Abstract:
Cation and anion channelrhodopsins (CCRs and ACRs, respectively) from phototactic algae have become widely used as genetically encoded molecular tools to control cell membrane potential with light. Recent advances in polynucleotide sequencing, especially in environmental samples, have led to identification of hundreds of channelrhodopsin homologs in many phylogenetic lineages, including non-photosynthetic protists. Only a few CCRs and ACRs have been characterized in detail, but there are indications that ion channel function has evolved within the rhodopsin superfamily by convergent routes. The diversity of channelrhodopsins provides an exceptional platform for the study of structure-function evolution in membrane proteins. Here we review the current state of channelrhodopsin research and outline perspectives for its further development.
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