Photochemical gating of heterologous ion channels: remote control over genetically designated populations of neurons.

Heterologous proteins capable of transducing physical or chemical stimuli into electrical signals can be used to control the function of excitable cells in intact tissues or organisms. Restricted genetically to circumscribed populations of cellular targets, these selectively addressable sources of d...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Zemelman, B, Nesnas, N, Lee, G, Miesenbock, G
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: 2003
_version_ 1797093696492011520
author Zemelman, B
Nesnas, N
Lee, G
Miesenbock, G
author_facet Zemelman, B
Nesnas, N
Lee, G
Miesenbock, G
author_sort Zemelman, B
collection OXFORD
description Heterologous proteins capable of transducing physical or chemical stimuli into electrical signals can be used to control the function of excitable cells in intact tissues or organisms. Restricted genetically to circumscribed populations of cellular targets, these selectively addressable sources of depolarizing current can supply distributed inputs to neural circuits, stimulate secretion, or regulate force and motility. In an initial demonstration of this principle, we have used elements of a G protein coupled signaling system, the phototransduction cascade of the fruit fly, to sensitize generalist vertebrate neurons to light [Zemelman, B. V., Lee, G. A., Ng, M. and Miesenböck, G. (2002) Neuron 33, 15-22]. We now describe the use of ectopically expressed ligand-gated ion channels as transducers of optical or pharmacological stimuli. When either the capsaicin receptor, TRPV1, the menthol receptor, TRPM8, or the ionotropic purinergic receptor P2X(2) was introduced into hippocampal neurons, the cells responded to pulsed applications of agonist with characteristic sequences of depolarization, spiking, and repolarization. Responses required cognate matches between receptor and agonist, peaked at firing frequencies of approximately 40 Hz, initiated and terminated rapidly, and did not attenuate. Precise dose-response relationships allowed current amplitudes and firing frequencies to be tuned by varying the concentration of ligand. Agonist could be administered either pharmacologically or, in the cases of TRPV1 and P2X(2), optically, through photorelease of the active compounds from the respective "caged" precursors, 4,5-dimethoxy-2-nitrobenzyl-capsaicin and P(3)-[1-(4,5-dimethoxy-2-nitrophenyl)ethyl]-ATP.
first_indexed 2024-03-07T04:04:02Z
format Journal article
id oxford-uuid:c589ccc5-c0d4-44db-bce5-758f5c8477c0
institution University of Oxford
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-07T04:04:02Z
publishDate 2003
record_format dspace
spelling oxford-uuid:c589ccc5-c0d4-44db-bce5-758f5c8477c02022-03-27T06:31:39ZPhotochemical gating of heterologous ion channels: remote control over genetically designated populations of neurons.Journal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:c589ccc5-c0d4-44db-bce5-758f5c8477c0EnglishSymplectic Elements at Oxford2003Zemelman, BNesnas, NLee, GMiesenbock, GHeterologous proteins capable of transducing physical or chemical stimuli into electrical signals can be used to control the function of excitable cells in intact tissues or organisms. Restricted genetically to circumscribed populations of cellular targets, these selectively addressable sources of depolarizing current can supply distributed inputs to neural circuits, stimulate secretion, or regulate force and motility. In an initial demonstration of this principle, we have used elements of a G protein coupled signaling system, the phototransduction cascade of the fruit fly, to sensitize generalist vertebrate neurons to light [Zemelman, B. V., Lee, G. A., Ng, M. and Miesenböck, G. (2002) Neuron 33, 15-22]. We now describe the use of ectopically expressed ligand-gated ion channels as transducers of optical or pharmacological stimuli. When either the capsaicin receptor, TRPV1, the menthol receptor, TRPM8, or the ionotropic purinergic receptor P2X(2) was introduced into hippocampal neurons, the cells responded to pulsed applications of agonist with characteristic sequences of depolarization, spiking, and repolarization. Responses required cognate matches between receptor and agonist, peaked at firing frequencies of approximately 40 Hz, initiated and terminated rapidly, and did not attenuate. Precise dose-response relationships allowed current amplitudes and firing frequencies to be tuned by varying the concentration of ligand. Agonist could be administered either pharmacologically or, in the cases of TRPV1 and P2X(2), optically, through photorelease of the active compounds from the respective "caged" precursors, 4,5-dimethoxy-2-nitrobenzyl-capsaicin and P(3)-[1-(4,5-dimethoxy-2-nitrophenyl)ethyl]-ATP.
spellingShingle Zemelman, B
Nesnas, N
Lee, G
Miesenbock, G
Photochemical gating of heterologous ion channels: remote control over genetically designated populations of neurons.
title Photochemical gating of heterologous ion channels: remote control over genetically designated populations of neurons.
title_full Photochemical gating of heterologous ion channels: remote control over genetically designated populations of neurons.
title_fullStr Photochemical gating of heterologous ion channels: remote control over genetically designated populations of neurons.
title_full_unstemmed Photochemical gating of heterologous ion channels: remote control over genetically designated populations of neurons.
title_short Photochemical gating of heterologous ion channels: remote control over genetically designated populations of neurons.
title_sort photochemical gating of heterologous ion channels remote control over genetically designated populations of neurons
work_keys_str_mv AT zemelmanb photochemicalgatingofheterologousionchannelsremotecontrolovergeneticallydesignatedpopulationsofneurons
AT nesnasn photochemicalgatingofheterologousionchannelsremotecontrolovergeneticallydesignatedpopulationsofneurons
AT leeg photochemicalgatingofheterologousionchannelsremotecontrolovergeneticallydesignatedpopulationsofneurons
AT miesenbockg photochemicalgatingofheterologousionchannelsremotecontrolovergeneticallydesignatedpopulationsofneurons