Veranstaltung
Characterizing bistable optoGPCRs for Application in Neurons
| Titel der Veranstaltung | Characterizing bistable optoGPCRs for Application in Neurons |
| Reihe | EKFZ Lecture |
| Veranstalter | Else Kröner Fresenius Center for Optogenetic Therapies |
| Referent/in | Dr. Benjamin Rost |
| Einrichtung Referent/in | DZNE |
| Veranstaltungsart | Vortrag |
| Kategorie | Forschung |
| Anmeldung erforderlich | Nein |
| Beschreibung | Optogenetic neuromodulation via photosensitive G protein-coupled receptors (optoGPCs) offers unprecedented control of neurons. In the past few years, we contributed to two studies that established bistable (non-bleaching) inhibitory optoGPCRs for reversible suppressing transmitter release from axon terminals. These opsins, mosquito OPN3 and PDCO (Platynereis dumerili ciliary opsin) have very different spectral properties: OPN3 is activated by the full spectrum of visible light, with a remarkably high red light sensitivity, and inactivates spontaneously via thermal decay. In contrast, PDCO is activated only by light below 410 nm, and inactivated with green to orange light. The structural determinants underlying these differences are unclear. In the first part of my talk, I will discuss unpublished research on the structure of OPN3, and present novel variants we developed by targeted opsin engineering. In the second part, I will present our attempt to develop optoGPCRs for inhibit dendritic Ca2+ spikes in large cortical neurons. We find that the efficiency of inhibition of synaptic transmitter release by optoGPCRs is not a predictive parameter for the functionality of optoGPCRs in dendrites. In future, optoGPCRs that have been optimized for dendritic applications will facilitate the investigation of the interaction between GPCR signaling cascades and Ca²⁺ signals in the integration of dendritic signals in L5PCs. |
| Zeit | Beginn: 07.10.2026, 16:00 Uhr Ende: 07.10.2026 , 17:00 Uhr |
| Ort |
Max-Planck-Institut für Multidisziplinäre Naturwissenschaften (MPI-NAT, City-Campus) (Hermann-Rein-Straße 3) Lecture Hall |
| Kontakt |
0551 3961942 ekfz@med.uni-goettingen.de |
| Externer Link | https://ekfz.uni-goettingen.de/vortraege/ |
| Dateianhang | Flyer_EKFZ Lecture_Benjamin Rost.pdf |