Temporal control of immediate early gene induction by light.
<h4>Background</h4>The light-gated cation channel channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) is a powerful tool for the optical induction of action potentials in neurons. Mutations of the cysteine 128 (C128) residue have been shown to greatly extend the lifetime of the conducting state of ChR2. However,...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2009-12-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmid/19997631/?tool=EBI |
| _version_ | 1819195303658520576 |
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| author | Philipp Schoenenberger Daniela Gerosa Thomas G Oertner |
| author_facet | Philipp Schoenenberger Daniela Gerosa Thomas G Oertner |
| author_sort | Philipp Schoenenberger |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <h4>Background</h4>The light-gated cation channel channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) is a powerful tool for the optical induction of action potentials in neurons. Mutations of the cysteine 128 (C128) residue have been shown to greatly extend the lifetime of the conducting state of ChR2. However, until now, only subthreshold depolarizations have been reported from C128 mutants.<h4>Methods and findings</h4>Here we report the induction of long high-frequency spike trains by brief light pulses in ChR2(C128A)-transfected pyramidal cells in hippocampal slice culture. ChR2(C128A)-mediated spike bursts triggered expression of the immediate early gene c-fos in pyramidal neurons. Robust and cell-specific expression of c-Fos protein was detected after a single blue light pulse and depended on action potential firing, but not on synaptic activity. However, photocurrents diminished upon repeated stimulation and limited the number of action potential bursts that could be elicited.<h4>Conclusions</h4>We conclude that the C128A mutant is not suitable for chronic stimulation of neurons, but very useful for light-controlled induction of immediate early genes. This property of ChR2(C128A) could be harnessed to control the expression of proteins under control of the c-fos promoter with precise timing and single cell specificity. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-23T02:10:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f1751e63958b4920abdeef498fb604df |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-23T02:10:37Z |
| publishDate | 2009-12-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-f1751e63958b4920abdeef498fb604df2022-12-21T18:03:47ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032009-12-01412e818510.1371/journal.pone.0008185Temporal control of immediate early gene induction by light.Philipp SchoenenbergerDaniela GerosaThomas G Oertner<h4>Background</h4>The light-gated cation channel channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) is a powerful tool for the optical induction of action potentials in neurons. Mutations of the cysteine 128 (C128) residue have been shown to greatly extend the lifetime of the conducting state of ChR2. However, until now, only subthreshold depolarizations have been reported from C128 mutants.<h4>Methods and findings</h4>Here we report the induction of long high-frequency spike trains by brief light pulses in ChR2(C128A)-transfected pyramidal cells in hippocampal slice culture. ChR2(C128A)-mediated spike bursts triggered expression of the immediate early gene c-fos in pyramidal neurons. Robust and cell-specific expression of c-Fos protein was detected after a single blue light pulse and depended on action potential firing, but not on synaptic activity. However, photocurrents diminished upon repeated stimulation and limited the number of action potential bursts that could be elicited.<h4>Conclusions</h4>We conclude that the C128A mutant is not suitable for chronic stimulation of neurons, but very useful for light-controlled induction of immediate early genes. This property of ChR2(C128A) could be harnessed to control the expression of proteins under control of the c-fos promoter with precise timing and single cell specificity.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmid/19997631/?tool=EBI |
| spellingShingle | Philipp Schoenenberger Daniela Gerosa Thomas G Oertner Temporal control of immediate early gene induction by light. PLoS ONE |
| title | Temporal control of immediate early gene induction by light. |
| title_full | Temporal control of immediate early gene induction by light. |
| title_fullStr | Temporal control of immediate early gene induction by light. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Temporal control of immediate early gene induction by light. |
| title_short | Temporal control of immediate early gene induction by light. |
| title_sort | temporal control of immediate early gene induction by light |
| url | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmid/19997631/?tool=EBI |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT philippschoenenberger temporalcontrolofimmediateearlygeneinductionbylight AT danielagerosa temporalcontrolofimmediateearlygeneinductionbylight AT thomasgoertner temporalcontrolofimmediateearlygeneinductionbylight |