Sodium-Selective Channelrhodopsins
Channelrhodopsins (ChRs) are light-gated ion channels originally discovered in algae and are commonly used in neuroscience for controlling the electrical activity of neurons with high precision. Initially-discovered ChRs were non-selective cation channels, allowing the flow of multiple ions, such as...
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MDPI AG
2024-11-01
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| author | Ariel Coli Shiqiang Gao Lars Kaestner |
| author_facet | Ariel Coli Shiqiang Gao Lars Kaestner |
| author_sort | Ariel Coli |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Channelrhodopsins (ChRs) are light-gated ion channels originally discovered in algae and are commonly used in neuroscience for controlling the electrical activity of neurons with high precision. Initially-discovered ChRs were non-selective cation channels, allowing the flow of multiple ions, such as Na<sup>+</sup>, K<sup>+</sup>, H<sup>+</sup>, and Ca<sup>2+</sup>, leading to membrane depolarization and triggering action potentials in neurons. As the field of optogenetics has evolved, ChRs with more specific ion selectivity were discovered or engineered, offering more precise optogenetic manipulation. This review highlights the natural occurrence and engineered variants of sodium-selective channelrhodopsins (NaChRs), emphasizing their importance in optogenetic applications. These tools offer enhanced specificity in Na<sup>+</sup> ion conduction, reducing unwanted effects from other ions, and generating strong depolarizing currents. Some of the NaChRs showed nearly no desensitization upon light illumination. These characteristics make them particularly useful for experiments requiring robust depolarization or direct Na<sup>+</sup> ion manipulation. The review further discusses the molecular structure of these channels, recent advances in their development, and potential applications, including a proposed drug delivery system using NaChR-expressing red blood cells that could be triggered to release therapeutic agents upon light activation. This review concludes with a forward-looking perspective on expanding the use of NaChRs in both basic research and clinical settings. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2b8344bfe6a9494b84ed6f1982b286c1 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2073-4409 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Cells |
| spelling | doaj-art-2b8344bfe6a9494b84ed6f1982b286c12024-11-26T17:56:47ZengMDPI AGCells2073-44092024-11-011322185210.3390/cells13221852Sodium-Selective ChannelrhodopsinsAriel Coli0Shiqiang Gao1Lars Kaestner2Dynamics of Fluids, Experimental Physics, Saarland University, 66123 Saarbrücken, GermanyDepartment of Neurophysiology, Physiological Institute, University of Würzburg, 97070 Würzburg, GermanyDynamics of Fluids, Experimental Physics, Saarland University, 66123 Saarbrücken, GermanyChannelrhodopsins (ChRs) are light-gated ion channels originally discovered in algae and are commonly used in neuroscience for controlling the electrical activity of neurons with high precision. Initially-discovered ChRs were non-selective cation channels, allowing the flow of multiple ions, such as Na<sup>+</sup>, K<sup>+</sup>, H<sup>+</sup>, and Ca<sup>2+</sup>, leading to membrane depolarization and triggering action potentials in neurons. As the field of optogenetics has evolved, ChRs with more specific ion selectivity were discovered or engineered, offering more precise optogenetic manipulation. This review highlights the natural occurrence and engineered variants of sodium-selective channelrhodopsins (NaChRs), emphasizing their importance in optogenetic applications. These tools offer enhanced specificity in Na<sup>+</sup> ion conduction, reducing unwanted effects from other ions, and generating strong depolarizing currents. Some of the NaChRs showed nearly no desensitization upon light illumination. These characteristics make them particularly useful for experiments requiring robust depolarization or direct Na<sup>+</sup> ion manipulation. The review further discusses the molecular structure of these channels, recent advances in their development, and potential applications, including a proposed drug delivery system using NaChR-expressing red blood cells that could be triggered to release therapeutic agents upon light activation. This review concludes with a forward-looking perspective on expanding the use of NaChRs in both basic research and clinical settings.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/13/22/1852channelrhodopsinsoptogeneticssodium-selectivityChR2channelrhodopsin variantsred blood cells |
| spellingShingle | Ariel Coli Shiqiang Gao Lars Kaestner Sodium-Selective Channelrhodopsins Cells channelrhodopsins optogenetics sodium-selectivity ChR2 channelrhodopsin variants red blood cells |
| title | Sodium-Selective Channelrhodopsins |
| title_full | Sodium-Selective Channelrhodopsins |
| title_fullStr | Sodium-Selective Channelrhodopsins |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sodium-Selective Channelrhodopsins |
| title_short | Sodium-Selective Channelrhodopsins |
| title_sort | sodium selective channelrhodopsins |
| topic | channelrhodopsins optogenetics sodium-selectivity ChR2 channelrhodopsin variants red blood cells |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/13/22/1852 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT arielcoli sodiumselectivechannelrhodopsins AT shiqianggao sodiumselectivechannelrhodopsins AT larskaestner sodiumselectivechannelrhodopsins |