National Institute of General Medical Sciences 5R01GM148599-04

Structural and mechanistic basis of channelrhodopsin function

This NIH-funded project at University of California Berkeley studies the structure and function of channelrhodopsins using cryo-EM and electrophysiology to advance optogenetics and clinical applications.

Description

The project aims to understand the mechanistic basis for gating and function in channelrhodopsins, retinal-binding proteins that form light-gated ion channels to control phototaxis in motile algae. It involves cryo-electron microscopy and electrophysiological recordings to study channelrhodopsins, focusing on cation channelrhodopsins and bacteriorhodopsin-like cation channelrhodopsins. The goal is to provide mechanistic insights and enable rational design of new variants for optogenetic applications, potentially leading to new clinical approaches for nervous and cardiovascular system diseases.

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