Optogenetic enables scientists to target specific neurons with photosensitive proteins (such as ion channels, ion pumps or enzymes) and manipulate their physiological state through light. This artificial interference with selected elements of complex neuronal circuits helps to determine the causal relationship between neuronal activity and the impact on the function of neuronal circuits controlling animal behavior. The advantages of optogenetics can be best used in genetically easy to deal with animals. On the one hand, the nervous system of these animals is small enough in the number of cells and has rigid organization to a certain extent, so it can repeatedly target different and recognizable neurons. On the other hand, neuronal circuits and behavior libraries should be complex enough to solve interesting problems.
Creative BioMart provides construction services for model organisms such as Caenorhabditis elegans, mouse/ rat, zebrafish, Drosophila melanogaster and Xenopus laevis for photogenetic research.
Transgenic mice are designed to express photogenetic tools in a cell type specific manner, providing a powerful way to examine the role of specific cells in discrete circuits in a defined and repeatable manner. Therefore, a lot of efforts have been seen to produce transgenic mouse lines that express optogenetic tools at functionally relevant levels.
In 2005, photogenetic protein was first expressed in Caenorhabditis elegans. Since then, Caenorhabditis elegans has become a powerful platform for optogenetic research on the neuronal basis of synaptic function, circuit dynamics and behavior. C. Elegans nervous system consists of 302 neurons, whose connectivity and morphology have been fully mapped, driving a wealth of behaviors that can be quantified by video microscopy.
Zebrafish (Danio rerio) is a popular vertebrate model organism used to study the molecular mechanisms driving development and disease. Due to its transparency in the embryonic and larval stages, living organisms can be studied by subcellular resolution using a living microscope. The beneficial optical properties of zebrafish allow not only passive observation, but also active manipulation of proteins and cells through light using optogenetic tools.
Drosophila melanogaster is a powerful genetic research organism, which can solve the relationship between behavior and brain structure, neuronal activity and molecular processes involved. Optogenetics has well established inquiry behavior in Drosophila, with studies ranging from cardiac pacing in motor control to memory formation.
Amphibians, in general, especially African clawed frog and Xenopus laevis, provide a model system in which the formation of spinal cord, the differentiation of spinal cord neurons and glia, and the establishment of spinal cord neurons and neuromuscular synapses can be easily carried out.
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