Complex Photochemistry within the Green-Absorbing Channelrhodopsin ReaChR.

ABSTRACT: Channelrhodopsins (ChRs) are light-activated ion channels widely employed for photostimulation of excitable cells. This study focuses on ReaChR, a chimeric ChR variant with optimal properties for optogenetic applications. We combined electrophysiological recordings with infrared and UV-visible spectroscopic measurements to investigate photocurrents and photochemical properties of ReaChR. Our data imply that ReaChR is green-light activated (λ_max = 532 nm) with a non-rhodopsin-like action spectrum peaking at 610 nm for stationary photocurrents. This unusual spectral feature is associated with photoconversion of a previously unknown light-sensitive, blue-shifted photocycle intermediate L (λ_max = 495 nm), which is accumulated under continuous illumination. To explain the

SUBMITTER: Krause BS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5374998 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature