Light-activated cation channel and uses thereof
AssigneeThe Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
InventorsKarl Deisseroth, Edward S. Boyden
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Abstract
The present invention provides compositions and methods for light-activated cation channel proteins and their uses within cell membranes and subcellular regions. The invention provides for proteins, nucleic acids, vectors and methods for genetically targeted expression of light-activated cation channels to specific cells or defined cell populations. In particular the invention provides millisecond-timescale temporal control of cation channels using moderate light intensities in cells, cell lines, transgenic animals, and humans. The invention provides for optically generating electrical spikes in nerve cells and other excitable cells useful for driving neuronal networks, drug screening, and therapy.
Claims21
-30. (canceled)
An implantable prosthetic device comprising a cell expressing a channelrhodopsin, wherein the channelrhodopsin comprises an amino acid sequence having at least about 75% amino acid sequence identity to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1.
A system comprising:
- a) an implantable prosthetic device comprising a cell expressing a channelrhodopsin, wherein the channelrhodopsin comprises an amino acid sequence having at least about 75% amino acid sequence identity to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1;
- and
- b) an implantable light source.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.