Source 1primary paper2019Nature Communications
Toolkit/MerMAIDs
MerMAIDs
Also known as: marine anion-conducting and intensely desensitizing channelrhodopsins, MerMAID
Taxonomy: Mechanism Branch / Architecture. Workflows sit above the mechanism and technique branches rather than replacing them.
Summary
MerMAIDs are a metagenomically identified, phylogenetically distinct family of anion-conducting channelrhodopsins. Their intense rapid desensitization during continuous illumination enables transient optogenetic silencing, including suppression of individual action potentials without preventing subsequent spiking.
Usefulness & Problems
Why this is useful
MerMAIDs are useful for optogenetic experiments that require brief suppression of neuronal firing under ongoing light exposure rather than sustained silencing. The reported use case is transient suppression of individual action potentials while allowing later spikes to occur during the same illumination period.
Source:
MerMAIDs are a family of metagenomically identified anion-conducting channelrhodopsins. Their rapid desensitization allows transient optogenetic silencing of neuronal activity.
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optogenetic silencing
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transient suppression of individual action potentials during continuous illumination
Problem solved
This tool addresses the need to suppress single action potentials transiently without abolishing subsequent spiking during continuous illumination. It therefore helps separate momentary inhibition from prolonged suppression in optogenetic control paradigms.
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They solve the need for transient suppression of individual action potentials without suppressing subsequent spiking during ongoing light exposure.
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enables transient neuronal silencing without affecting subsequent spiking during continuous illumination
Problem links
enables transient neuronal silencing without affecting subsequent spiking during continuous illumination
LiteratureThey solve the need for transient suppression of individual action potentials without suppressing subsequent spiking during ongoing light exposure.
Source:
They solve the need for transient suppression of individual action potentials without suppressing subsequent spiking during ongoing light exposure.
Published Workflows
Objective: Identify metagenomically discovered channelrhodopsins with properties useful for optogenetic silencing and explain the mechanism underlying their intense desensitization.
Why it works: The paper links metagenomic discovery of phylogenetically distinct anion-conducting channelrhodopsins to mechanistic and functional characterization, allowing the authors to connect a distinctive desensitization mechanism to an optogenetic silencing use case.
accumulation of a late non-conducting photointermediate that disrupts the ion permeation pathwaysingle photocycle with a long-lived desensitized state following a short-lived conducting stateconserved cysteine contribution to desensitizationmetagenomic discoveryfunctional characterizationmutation analysis
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 expression of the channelrhodopsin construct and light illumination in the target cells. The supplied evidence discusses application in neuronal activity manipulation under continuous illumination, but does not provide construct architecture, cofactor requirements, wavelength, or delivery details.
The available evidence indicates that wild-type MerMAIDs almost completely desensitize under continuous illumination, so they do not maintain large stationary photocurrents in that regime. Evidence here is limited to the source paper summary, with no additional details on kinetics, spectral properties, or cross-system validation.
Validation
Cell-freeBacteriaMammalianMouseHumanTherapeuticIndep. Replication
Supporting Sources
Ranked Claims
Rapid desensitization of MerMAIDs enables their use as optogenetic silencers for transient suppression of individual action potentials without affecting subsequent spiking during continuous illumination.
Rapid desensitization of MerMAIDs enables their use as optogenetic silencers for transient suppression of individual action potentials without affecting subsequent spiking during continuous illumination.
Rapid desensitization of MerMAIDs enables their use as optogenetic silencers for transient suppression of individual action potentials without affecting subsequent spiking during continuous illumination.
Rapid desensitization of MerMAIDs enables their use as optogenetic silencers for transient suppression of individual action potentials without affecting subsequent spiking during continuous illumination.
Rapid desensitization of MerMAIDs enables their use as optogenetic silencers for transient suppression of individual action potentials without affecting subsequent spiking during continuous illumination.
Rapid desensitization of MerMAIDs enables their use as optogenetic silencers for transient suppression of individual action potentials without affecting subsequent spiking during continuous illumination.
Rapid desensitization of MerMAIDs enables their use as optogenetic silencers for transient suppression of individual action potentials without affecting subsequent spiking during continuous illumination.
Rapid desensitization of MerMAIDs enables their use as optogenetic silencers for transient suppression of individual action potentials without affecting subsequent spiking during continuous illumination.
Rapid desensitization of MerMAIDs enables their use as optogenetic silencers for transient suppression of individual action potentials without affecting subsequent spiking during continuous illumination.
MerMAIDs are a metagenomically identified family of phylogenetically distinct anion-conducting channelrhodopsins.
MerMAIDs are a metagenomically identified family of phylogenetically distinct anion-conducting channelrhodopsins.
MerMAIDs are a metagenomically identified family of phylogenetically distinct anion-conducting channelrhodopsins.
MerMAIDs are a metagenomically identified family of phylogenetically distinct anion-conducting channelrhodopsins.
MerMAIDs are a metagenomically identified family of phylogenetically distinct anion-conducting channelrhodopsins.
MerMAIDs are a metagenomically identified family of phylogenetically distinct anion-conducting channelrhodopsins.
MerMAIDs are a metagenomically identified family of phylogenetically distinct anion-conducting channelrhodopsins.
MerMAIDs are a metagenomically identified family of phylogenetically distinct anion-conducting channelrhodopsins.
MerMAIDs are a metagenomically identified family of phylogenetically distinct anion-conducting channelrhodopsins.
The results could facilitate development of optogenetic tools from metagenomic databases.
The results could facilitate development of optogenetic tools from metagenomic databases.
The results could facilitate development of optogenetic tools from metagenomic databases.
The results could facilitate development of optogenetic tools from metagenomic databases.
The results could facilitate development of optogenetic tools from metagenomic databases.
The results could facilitate development of optogenetic tools from metagenomic databases.
The results could facilitate development of optogenetic tools from metagenomic databases.
The results could facilitate development of optogenetic tools from metagenomic databases.
The results could facilitate development of optogenetic tools from metagenomic databases.
MerMAID desensitization can be explained by a single photocycle in which a long-lived desensitized state follows a short-lived conducting state.
MerMAID desensitization can be explained by a single photocycle in which a long-lived desensitized state follows a short-lived conducting state.
MerMAID desensitization can be explained by a single photocycle in which a long-lived desensitized state follows a short-lived conducting state.
MerMAID desensitization can be explained by a single photocycle in which a long-lived desensitized state follows a short-lived conducting state.
MerMAID desensitization can be explained by a single photocycle in which a long-lived desensitized state follows a short-lived conducting state.
MerMAID desensitization can be explained by a single photocycle in which a long-lived desensitized state follows a short-lived conducting state.
MerMAID desensitization can be explained by a single photocycle in which a long-lived desensitized state follows a short-lived conducting state.
MerMAID desensitization can be explained by a single photocycle in which a long-lived desensitized state follows a short-lived conducting state.
MerMAID desensitization can be explained by a single photocycle in which a long-lived desensitized state follows a short-lived conducting state.
MerMAIDs almost completely desensitize during continuous illumination because a late non-conducting photointermediate accumulates and disrupts the ion permeation pathway.
MerMAIDs almost completely desensitize during continuous illumination because a late non-conducting photointermediate accumulates and disrupts the ion permeation pathway.
MerMAIDs almost completely desensitize during continuous illumination because a late non-conducting photointermediate accumulates and disrupts the ion permeation pathway.
MerMAIDs almost completely desensitize during continuous illumination because a late non-conducting photointermediate accumulates and disrupts the ion permeation pathway.
MerMAIDs almost completely desensitize during continuous illumination because a late non-conducting photointermediate accumulates and disrupts the ion permeation pathway.
MerMAIDs almost completely desensitize during continuous illumination because a late non-conducting photointermediate accumulates and disrupts the ion permeation pathway.
MerMAIDs almost completely desensitize during continuous illumination because a late non-conducting photointermediate accumulates and disrupts the ion permeation pathway.
MerMAIDs almost completely desensitize during continuous illumination because a late non-conducting photointermediate accumulates and disrupts the ion permeation pathway.
MerMAIDs almost completely desensitize during continuous illumination because a late non-conducting photointermediate accumulates and disrupts the ion permeation pathway.
A conserved cysteine is a critical factor in MerMAID desensitization, and its mutation recovers large stationary photocurrents.
A conserved cysteine is a critical factor in MerMAID desensitization, and its mutation recovers large stationary photocurrents.
A conserved cysteine is a critical factor in MerMAID desensitization, and its mutation recovers large stationary photocurrents.
A conserved cysteine is a critical factor in MerMAID desensitization, and its mutation recovers large stationary photocurrents.
A conserved cysteine is a critical factor in MerMAID desensitization, and its mutation recovers large stationary photocurrents.
A conserved cysteine is a critical factor in MerMAID desensitization, and its mutation recovers large stationary photocurrents.
A conserved cysteine is a critical factor in MerMAID desensitization, and its mutation recovers large stationary photocurrents.
A conserved cysteine is a critical factor in MerMAID desensitization, and its mutation recovers large stationary photocurrents.
A conserved cysteine is a critical factor in MerMAID desensitization, and its mutation recovers large stationary photocurrents.
Approval Evidence
1 source6 linked approval claimsfirst-pass slug mermaids
Here we describe a metagenomically identified family of phylogenetically distinct anion-conducting ChRs (designated MerMAIDs).
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applicationsupports
Rapid desensitization of MerMAIDs enables their use as optogenetic silencers for transient suppression of individual action potentials without affecting subsequent spiking during continuous illumination.
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discoverysupports
MerMAIDs are a metagenomically identified family of phylogenetically distinct anion-conducting channelrhodopsins.
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engineering implicationsupports
The results could facilitate development of optogenetic tools from metagenomic databases.
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mechanismsupports
MerMAID desensitization can be explained by a single photocycle in which a long-lived desensitized state follows a short-lived conducting state.
Source:
mechanismsupports
MerMAIDs almost completely desensitize during continuous illumination because a late non-conducting photointermediate accumulates and disrupts the ion permeation pathway.
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structure functionsupports
A conserved cysteine is a critical factor in MerMAID desensitization, and its mutation recovers large stationary photocurrents.
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Comparisons
Source-stated alternatives
The abstract contrasts MerMAIDs with channelrhodopsins more generally, which desensitize under continuous bright-light illumination but are not described here as having the same transient silencing use profile.
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The abstract contrasts MerMAIDs with channelrhodopsins more generally, which desensitize under continuous bright-light illumination but are not described here as having the same transient silencing use profile.
Source-backed strengths
The family is reported to be anion-conducting and phylogenetically distinct, expanding the known diversity of channelrhodopsins. Its key functional strength is intense rapid desensitization, which was specifically linked to transient optogenetic silencing and suppression of individual action potentials.
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rapid desensitization enables transient suppression of individual action potentials
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anion-conducting channelrhodopsin family discovered from metagenomic data
Compared with mMORp
MerMAIDs and mMORp address a similar problem space.
Shared frame: same top-level item type; same primary input modality: light
Compared with optogenetic probes
MerMAIDs and optogenetic probes address a similar problem space.
Shared frame: same top-level item type; same primary input modality: light
Compared with organoid fusion
MerMAIDs and organoid fusion address a similar problem space.
Shared frame: same top-level item type; same primary input modality: light
Ranked Citations
- 1.