Optogenetics Resource

The emerging field of optogenetics uses several bacterial opsins to control cellular functions in genetically modified cells. For example, neuronal signaling is achieved by membrane depolarization that results in subsequent activation of transient electrical signals (spiking). By exogenously expressing light-activated proteins that alter membrane potential in neurons, addition or removal of specific wavelengths of light can be used for rapid control of neuronal activity.

Pharmacogenetic models express engineered receptors that are activated by designer drugs.  These can be used to control neuronal signaling in a genetically specified neuronal subset by providing the artificial ligand.

A growing number of mouse lines expressing proteins that activate, inhibit or detect neuronal activity are available from The Jackson Laboratory Repository.  Many of these strains have been generated by the HHMI Janelia Farm GENIE Project or by the Allen Institute for Brain Science.

Comparison of optogenetic strains (Excel File or Web)

Strains expressing Channelrhodopsin

Strains expressing Halorhodopsin

Strains expressing Archaerhodopsin

Strains expressing Calcium sensors

Strains expressing Chloride sensors

Strains expressing chemogenetic receptors

Cre-dependent optogenetic tools

A number of strains express optogenetic effector proteins in a Cre-dependent manner. Cre-dependent optogenetic tool strains can be mated with any one of the many Cre-expressing strains that are available to create a novel experimental system (Madisen et al. 2012, Zariwala et al. 2012). To find an appropriate Cre line for your application, see our list of Cre strains for neurobiology or search by promoter or site of expression at www.creportal.org.

Strains presented at Society for Neuroscience 2019 (Download PDF of poster)