Channelrhodopsins (IMAGE)

Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Channelrhodopsins

Caption

The blue light bulbs represent channelrhodopsin proteins in their normal orientation. Blue light "turns on" these proteins, activating neurons. When a new protein (in purple) is fused onto this opsin, its orientation flips (red light bulb). It is then activated by red light and acts as a neuron inhibitor.

Credit

Katie Ris-Vicari, Josh Dudman, and Luke Coddington

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