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Optogenetics
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Optogenetics

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Genetics and Genomics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 February 2023) | Viewed by 12558

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Thomas Knöpfel

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Laboratory for Neuronal Circuit Dynamics, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK
2. Centre for Neurotechnology, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
Interests: optogenetics; neuronal circuits; optogenetic tools; optogenetic approaches; serotonin
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Optogenetics can be defined as concepts and methods that are based on the use of light and genetics to manipulate and monitor the activities of defined cell populations. Optogenetic approches have already had a major impact in life sciences, in particular neurosciences, but they are still evolving.

IJMS is a journal of molecular science; thus, pure clinical studies will not be suitable for this journal. Clinical submissions with biomolecular experiments, however, are welcomed.

We invite you to contribute original articles that describe conceptual and methodological advances associated with optogenetic approaches. Review articles describing cutting-edge and emerging optogenetic technologies are also welcome.

Prof. Thomas Knöpfel
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Optogenetic tools
  • Targeting cell classes
  • Targeting subcellular structures
  • Genetically encoded indicators
  • Genetically encoded actuators
  • Optogenetic interference in animal models of diseases

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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11 pages, 2479 KiB  
Article
Combining Cortical Voltage Imaging and Hippocampal Electrophysiology for Investigating Global, Multi-Timescale Activity Interactions in the Brain
by Rafael Pedrosa, Chenchen Song, Thomas Knöpfel and Francesco Battaglia
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(12), 6814; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23126814 - 19 Jun 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3591
Abstract
A new generation of optogenetic tools for analyzing neural activity has been contributing to the elucidation of classical open questions in neuroscience. Specifically, voltage imaging technologies using enhanced genetically encoded voltage indicators have been increasingly used to observe the dynamics of large circuits [...] Read more.
A new generation of optogenetic tools for analyzing neural activity has been contributing to the elucidation of classical open questions in neuroscience. Specifically, voltage imaging technologies using enhanced genetically encoded voltage indicators have been increasingly used to observe the dynamics of large circuits at the mesoscale. Here, we describe how to combine cortical wide-field voltage imaging with hippocampal electrophysiology in awake, behaving mice. Furthermore, we highlight how this method can be useful for different possible investigations, using the characterization of hippocampal–neocortical interactions as a case study. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optogenetics)
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14 pages, 2191 KiB  
Article
Modular and Molecular Optimization of a LOV (Light–Oxygen–Voltage)-Based Optogenetic Switch in Yeast
by Andrés Romero, Vicente Rojas, Verónica Delgado, Francisco Salinas and Luis F. Larrondo
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(16), 8538; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22168538 - 9 Aug 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3762
Abstract
Optogenetic switches allow light-controlled gene expression with reversible and spatiotemporal resolution. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, optogenetic tools hold great potential for a variety of metabolic engineering and biotechnology applications. In this work, we report on the modular optimization of the fungal light–oxygen–voltage (FUN-LOV) [...] Read more.
Optogenetic switches allow light-controlled gene expression with reversible and spatiotemporal resolution. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, optogenetic tools hold great potential for a variety of metabolic engineering and biotechnology applications. In this work, we report on the modular optimization of the fungal light–oxygen–voltage (FUN-LOV) system, an optogenetic switch based on photoreceptors from the fungus Neurospora crassa. We also describe new switch variants obtained by replacing the Gal4 DNA-binding domain (DBD) of FUN-LOV with nine different DBDs from yeast transcription factors of the zinc cluster family. Among the tested modules, the variant carrying the Hap1p DBD, which we call “HAP-LOV”, displayed higher levels of luciferase expression upon induction compared to FUN-LOV. Further, the combination of the Hap1p DBD with either p65 or VP16 activation domains also resulted in higher levels of reporter expression compared to the original switch. Finally, we assessed the effects of the plasmid copy number and promoter strength controlling the expression of the FUN-LOV and HAP-LOV components, and observed that when low-copy plasmids and strong promoters were used, a stronger response was achieved in both systems. Altogether, we describe a new set of blue-light optogenetic switches carrying different protein modules, which expands the available suite of optogenetic tools in yeast and can additionally be applied to other systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optogenetics)
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Review

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18 pages, 1781 KiB  
Review
Optogenetic fMRI for Brain-Wide Circuit Analysis of Sensory Processing
by Jeong-Yun Lee, Taeyi You, Choong-Wan Woo and Seong-Gi Kim
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(20), 12268; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms232012268 - 14 Oct 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4223
Abstract
Sensory processing is a complex neurological process that receives, integrates, and responds to information from one’s own body and environment, which is closely related to survival as well as neurological disorders. Brain-wide networks of sensory processing are difficult to investigate due to their [...] Read more.
Sensory processing is a complex neurological process that receives, integrates, and responds to information from one’s own body and environment, which is closely related to survival as well as neurological disorders. Brain-wide networks of sensory processing are difficult to investigate due to their dynamic regulation by multiple brain circuits. Optogenetics, a neuromodulation technique that uses light-sensitive proteins, can be combined with functional magnetic resonance imaging (ofMRI) to measure whole-brain activity. Since ofMRI has increasingly been used for investigating brain circuits underlying sensory processing for over a decade, we systematically reviewed recent ofMRI studies of sensory circuits and discussed the challenges of optogenetic fMRI in rodents. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optogenetics)
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