What is Optogenetics?

What is Optogenetics?

Optogenetics is the new, trendy method for scientists to use in order to precisely control specific areas in any population of cells for any species. This method utilizes UV light( ultra-violet light) at a specific wavelength to activate/deactivate light-sensitive proteins in particular areas within the cell. By activating/deactivating these proteins ion pumps, the movement of these ions, cations and anions, across the membrane greatly affects the the communication between neurons. By shining light to these proteins, scientists will be able to manipulate what areas of the cells will and will not be active.

In the neuroscience seminar, Dr.Stephan Steidl presented his research on how he uses Optogenetics when experimenting on the dopamine system. The dopamine pathway, which is also called the mesolimbic dopamine system, is a pathway inside the brain that controls the brain’s pleasure and rewards. Dr.Steidl took rats and injected them with adeno -associated viral vectors, AAV, into certain part of the brain. Once the AVV has been injected, the neurons in the area became light-sensitive. Later, a thin wire that had a light source would be put into the dopamine pathway(inside the brain) where the neurons were light-sensitive. Researchers would then turn on the light, and thus the light would then activate the dopamine pathway. With the help of optogenetics, researchers were able to purposefully manipulate the rat’s brain by turning on the dopamine pathway. I personally found it shocking because once it was on, it seemed like the rats had no control over themselves. The rats with their pathways on were continuously electrically shocked many times, yet the rats didn’t care that they were being harmed.

A recent research has come out that with the help of optogenetics, memory can be improved. This research, coming from the Korean Institute of Science and Technology, indicates that optogenetics can precisely control the calcium channels. Calcium channels are ion gated protein channels in the membrane that are responsible for transporting calcium in and out of the cell. It is important that calcium ions be kept at a particular concentration both inside/outside the cell since they are responsible for cognitive functioning. The researchers were able to use a hybrid, photoreceptor molecule called OptoSTIM1, and they placed the molecule into the mice’s brain and shined blue light into the area. They found that by shinning the blue light onto this specific hybrid molecule, the calcium ion channels were forced to open up and take more calcium into the cell than previous molecules in past experiments had. Just like Steidl had manipulated optogenetics to turn on the dopamine pathway, researchers had shined light to turn on the calcium ion channels for improvement in memory. Once of the researchers saw that the molecule improved in calcium uptake, they then hypothesized that their new hybrid molecule can greatly benefit those with Alzheimer’s  disease since it is the dysfunction in calcium regulation.  This shows that optogenetics is a very crucial tool for scientists because of how successful it has been, yet I believe that more research involving optogenetics in other areas besides the brain will tell how successful this tool really is.

Heo, Won Do, and Yong Mahn Han. "Improving Memory With a Flash of Light." PHYS.ORG. Nature Biotechnology, 14 Sept. 2015. Web.