Neuroscience: Illuminating the brain

Buchen, Lizzie

doi:10.1038/465026a

Cited by 30 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…The decision affects the choice of promoter, which is a genetic element that controls gene expression. Thus, the first step of optogenetic experiment is to create a genetic construct containing opsin gene (channelrhodopsin, when the goal is to study the changes occurring after activation of neurons or halorhodopsin when the aim is opposite) under control a specific gene promoter [9]. The construct is made using methods of molecular biology such standard cloning or homologous recombination.…”

Section: Step 1 -Creating a Genetic Constructmentioning

confidence: 99%

WP1: transgenic opto-animals

2014

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We aim to create a set of genetic tools where permanent opsin expression (ChR or NpHR) is precisely limited to the population of neurons that express immediate early gene c-fos during a specific temporal window of behavioral training. Since the c-fos gene is only expressed in neurons that form experience-dependent ensemble, this approach will result in specific labeling of a small subset of cells that create memory trace for the learned behavior. To this end we employ two alternative inducible gene expression systems: Tet Expression System and Cre/lox System. In both cases, the temporal window for opsin induction is controlled pharmacologically, by doxycycline or tamoxifen, respectively. Both systems will be used for creating lines of transgenic animals.

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Section: Step 1 -Creating a Genetic Constructmentioning

confidence: 99%

WP1: transgenic opto-animals

2014

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“…Combined with a light activated pump, like Halorhodopsin (NpHR), which can be activated by orange light, it allows to instantaneously activate and silence specific groups of neurons in cells of living tissues with a precision that cannot be achieved by other methods. 1 In this particular project, neurons linked to the photoreceptors in the eyes, called ganglion cells, are targeted.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development of optics with micro-LED arrays for improved opto-electronic neural stimulation

et al. 2013

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The breakthrough discovery of a nanoscale optically gated ion channel protein, Channelrhodopsin 2 (ChR2), and its combination with a genetically expressed ion pump, Halorhodopsin, allowed the direct stimulation and inhibition of individual action potentials with light alone. This work reports developments of ultra-bright electronically controlled optical array sources with enhanced light gated ion channels and pumps for use in systems to further our understanding of both brain and visual function. This work is undertaken as part of the European project, OptoNeuro.Micro-LED arrays permit spatio-temporal control of neuron stimulation on sub-millisecond timescales. However they are disadvantaged by their broad spatial light emission distribution and low fill factor. We present the design and implementation of a projection and micro-optics system for use with a micro-LED array consisting of a 16x16 matrix of 25 µm diameter micro-LEDs with 150 µm centre-to-centre spacing and an emission spectrum centred at 470 nm overlapping the peak sensitivity of ChR2 and its testing on biological samples. The projection system images the micro-LED array onto micro-optics to improve the fill-factor from ∼2% to more than 78% by capturing a larger fraction of the LED emission and directing it correctly to the sample plane. This approach allows low fill factor arrays to be used effectively, which in turn has benefits in terms of thermal management and electrical drive from CMOS backplane electronics. The entire projection system is integrated into a microscope prototype to provide stimulation spots at the same size as the neuron cell body (∼10 µm).

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“…In the past few years the development of 'optogenetic' tools has allowed rodent researchers to engineer particular neurons so that their activity can be switched on or off with flashes of laser light 3 , allowing the role of neurons in a behaviour circuit to be dissected. Right now these systems work best in mice.…”

Section: Evolutionary Similaritiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neuroscience: The rat pack

Abbott¹

2010

Nature

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Neuroscience: Illuminating the brain

Cited by 30 publications

References 5 publications

WP1: transgenic opto-animals

WP1: transgenic opto-animals

Development of optics with micro-LED arrays for improved opto-electronic neural stimulation

Neuroscience: The rat pack

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