光駆動性陽イオンチャネルであるチャネルロドプシンの結晶構造

概要

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Channelrhodopsin (ChR) is a light-gated cation channel derived from algae that conducts cations, including sodium ions, in a light-dependent manner. Because the inward flow of sodium ions triggers the neuron firing, neurons expressing ChRs can be optically controlled even within freely moving mammals. Although ChR has been broadly applied to neuroscience research, little is known about its molecular mechanisms. We determined the crystal structure of ChR at 2.3 Å resolution and revealed its molecular architecture, especially, the cation-conducting pathway. The integration of structural and electrophysiological analyses provided insight into the molecular basis for the remarkable function of ChR, and paved the way for the principled design of ChR variants with novel properties.
2012-08-31