Functional Mechanism of Channelrhodopsins

Abstract

The discovery of channelrhodopsin (ChR) molecules opened the door to new research field of optogenetics allowing us to optically control biological functions. ChR is the first light-gated cation channels found in flagellated green algae, functioning as a sensory photoreceptor for optimal light environment. By various technologies such as spectroscopy, electrophysiology, structural analysis and molecular dynamics, the molecular function of ChR has been emerged to explain the channel activation and ion conduction, which are induced by chromophore photo-isomerization and structural changes of the molecule. Furthermore these studies would enable us to engineer new ChRs which have more appropriate properties for optogenetics applications.