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Channel Rhodopsins

Channel Rhodopsins

Most organisms use photoreceptors to sense and respond to light. Examples of photoreceptors include bacteriorhodopsins and bacteriophytochromes in some bacteria, phytochromes in plants, and rhodopsins in the photoreceptor cells of the vertebral retina. The light-sensitive property of these receptors is because of the bound chromophores, such as bilin in the phytochromes and retinal in the rhodopsins.
Rhodopsins belong to the family of cell surface proteins called G-protein coupled receptors,...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 11, 2025

Building a Simple and Versatile Illumination System for Optogenetic Experiments

Building a Simple and Versatile Illumination System for Optogenetic Experiments

Published on: January 12, 2021

Optogenetics for light control of biological systems.

Valentina Emiliani¹, Emilia Entcheva², Rainer Hedrich³

¹Wavefront Engineering Microscopy Group, Photonics Department, Institut de la Vision, Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Paris, France.

Nature Reviews. Methods Primers

|November 7, 2023

Summary

Optogenetics uses genetic engineering and light to control specific cells. This powerful technique precisely manipulates cellular functions and is expanding beyond neuroscience to other scientific fields.

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Last Updated: Jul 11, 2025

Building a Simple and Versatile Illumination System for Optogenetic Experiments

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Spatiotemporal Control of Protein Activity through Optogenetic Allosteric Regulation

Spatiotemporal Control of Protein Activity through Optogenetic Allosteric Regulation

Published on: October 4, 2024

Area of Science:

Biotechnology
Cellular Biology
Neuroscience

Background:

Optogenetics enables precise control over selected cells in heterogeneous tissues.
It utilizes genetically introduced photoreceptors to render cells photosensitive.

Purpose of the Study:

To describe the principles of optogenetics.
To review optogenetic tools, illumination methods, and applications.
To discuss the possibilities and limitations of optogenetic manipulations.

Main Methods:

Genetic engineering to introduce photoreceptors into target cells.
Application of control elements (promoters, enhancers) for selective expression and targeting.
Development of advanced optical methods for patterned photostimulation.

Main Results:

Optogenetics allows for precise temporal and spatial control of cellular activity.
The technique has revolutionized neuroscience and shows potential in cardiology, cell biology, and plant sciences.

Conclusions:

Optogenetics offers a powerful approach for characterizing and manipulating cellular functions.
Its applications are diverse, spanning various cell types, circuits, and organisms, with significant future potential.