Optogenetics: Light regulates an enzyme

The unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii has already given research a massive boost: One of its light sensors, channelrhodopsin-2, founded the success of optogenetics about 20 years ago.

In this technology, the alga’s light sensor is incorporated into cells or small living organisms such as threadworms. Afterwards, certain physiological processes can be triggered or stopped by light. This has already led to several new scientific findings, for example on the function of nerve cells.

Now the green alga Chlamydomonas is once again setting an accent. Once again, it is its light sensors, the rhodopsins, that have added an instrument to the toolbox of cell biology.

Researchers Yuehui Tian, Georg Nagel and Shiqiang Gao from Julius-Maximilians-Universität (JMU) Würzburg in Bavaria, Germany, have constructed a novel light sensor from two of the algae’s rhodopsins. It has enzymatic activity and can be switched by two different light colours. UV or violet light leads to the production of cGMP, an important signalling molecule in the cell. A blue or green flash of light, on the other hand, stops the production of the signalling molecule.

The researchers present the new light sensor in the journal BMC Biology. They have given it the name switch-Cyclop.

Nagel’s research group at the JMU Institute of Physiology is continuing to characterise the properties of the various rhodopsins from Chlamydomonas. The professor’s team is cooperating closely with neuroscientists. The goal is to explore the possible applications of the light sensors.

Georg Nagel is one of the pioneers of optogenetics. He has received several high-ranking awards for his research in this field. Dr Yuehui Tian did his doctorate under Nagel; he has been conducting research in China at Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, since the end of 2020. Dr. Shiqiang Gao also received his doctorate from Nagel, with whom he has been conducting research at JMU for over ten years.

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