Source 1review2016Methods in molecular biology
Toolkit/Channelrhodopsin variants
Channelrhodopsin variants
Also known as: application-specific Channelrhodopsin variants, engineered Channelrhodopsin variants
Taxonomy: Mechanism Branch / Architecture. Workflows sit above the mechanism and technique branches rather than replacing them.
Summary
The demand for more application-specific Channelrhodopsin variants started a race between protein engineers to design improved variants. Here, we review new variants whose efficacy has already been proven in neurophysiological experiments, or variants which are likely to extend the optogenetic toolbox.
Usefulness & Problems
Why this is useful
Channelrhodopsin variants are light-gated ion-channel tools used to control the membrane potential of excitable cells with illumination. The review frames engineered variants as application-specific extensions of the optogenetic toolbox.; controlling membrane potential of excitable cells via illumination; expanding the optogenetic toolbox with application-specific actuators
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Channelrhodopsin variants are light-gated ion-channel tools used to control the membrane potential of excitable cells with illumination. The review frames engineered variants as application-specific extensions of the optogenetic toolbox.
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controlling membrane potential of excitable cells via illumination
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expanding the optogenetic toolbox with application-specific actuators
Problem solved
These variants solve the need for optical control of excitable cells and for tuning actuator properties to specific experimental applications.; providing light-gated control of excitable cells; tailoring optogenetic actuators to different operational requirements
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These variants solve the need for optical control of excitable cells and for tuning actuator properties to specific experimental applications.
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providing light-gated control of excitable cells
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tailoring optogenetic actuators to different operational requirements
Problem links
providing light-gated control of excitable cells
LiteratureThese variants solve the need for optical control of excitable cells and for tuning actuator properties to specific experimental applications.
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These variants solve the need for optical control of excitable cells and for tuning actuator properties to specific experimental applications.
tailoring optogenetic actuators to different operational requirements
LiteratureThese variants solve the need for optical control of excitable cells and for tuning actuator properties to specific experimental applications.
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These variants solve the need for optical control of excitable cells and for tuning actuator properties to specific experimental applications.
Taxonomy & Function
Primary hierarchy
Mechanism Branch
Architecture: A reusable architecture pattern for arranging parts into an engineered system.
Techniques
Computational DesignTarget processes
No target processes tagged yet.
Input: Light
Implementation Constraints
cofactor dependency: cofactor requirement unknownencoding mode: genetically encodedimplementation constraint: context specific validationimplementation constraint: spectral hardware requirementoperating role: actuator
Use requires illumination and expression of a channelrhodopsin variant in excitable cells. Variant selection is discussed in terms of expression, kinetics, ion selectivity, and wavelength responsivity.; variant choice depends on expression, kinetics, ion selectivity, and wavelength responsivity
The abstract does not indicate that any single variant solves all use cases, and it notes that the growing number of variants and names can itself create a usability problem.; variant proliferation and perplexing names can alienate users
Validation
Cell-freeBacteriaMammalianMouseHumanTherapeuticIndep. Replication
Supporting Sources
Ranked Claims
Many engineered channelrhodopsin variants have advantages compared with wild-type variants.
Demand for more application-specific channelrhodopsin variants drove engineering of improved variants.
Channelrhodopsin variants in the review are described by mechanistic and operational properties including expression, kinetics, ion selectivity, and wavelength responsivity.
The review covers new channelrhodopsin variants whose efficacy has been proven in neurophysiological experiments or that are likely to extend the optogenetic toolbox.
Channelrhodopsins have become widely accepted as a tool to control the membrane potential of excitable cells via illumination.
The large number of new channelrhodopsin variants and their perplexing names can alienate users.
Approval Evidence
1 source6 linked approval claimsfirst-pass slug channelrhodopsin-variants
The demand for more application-specific Channelrhodopsin variants started a race between protein engineers to design improved variants. Here, we review new variants whose efficacy has already been proven in neurophysiological experiments, or variants which are likely to extend the optogenetic toolbox.
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comparative advantage summarysupports
Many engineered channelrhodopsin variants have advantages compared with wild-type variants.
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engineering need summarysupports
Demand for more application-specific channelrhodopsin variants drove engineering of improved variants.
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property axis summarysupports
Channelrhodopsin variants in the review are described by mechanistic and operational properties including expression, kinetics, ion selectivity, and wavelength responsivity.
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review selection scopesupports
The review covers new channelrhodopsin variants whose efficacy has been proven in neurophysiological experiments or that are likely to extend the optogenetic toolbox.
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tool role summarysupports
Channelrhodopsins have become widely accepted as a tool to control the membrane potential of excitable cells via illumination.
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usability limitation summarysupports
The large number of new channelrhodopsin variants and their perplexing names can alienate users.
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Comparisons
Source-stated alternatives
The abstract contrasts engineered variants with wild-type variants rather than naming non-channelrhodopsin alternatives.
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The abstract contrasts engineered variants with wild-type variants rather than naming non-channelrhodopsin alternatives.
Source-backed strengths
widely accepted as a tool for optical control of membrane potential; engineered variants can offer advantages over wild-type variants
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widely accepted as a tool for optical control of membrane potential
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engineered variants can offer advantages over wild-type variants
Compared with mMORp
Channelrhodopsin variants and mMORp address a similar problem space.
Shared frame: same top-level item type; same primary input modality: light
Compared with optogenetic probes
Channelrhodopsin variants and optogenetic probes address a similar problem space.
Shared frame: same top-level item type; same primary input modality: light
Compared with organoid fusion
Channelrhodopsin variants and organoid fusion address a similar problem space.
Shared frame: same top-level item type; same primary input modality: light
Ranked Citations
- 1.