A review: combination of photon emission & genome engineering in brain stimulation

Abstract

Genome engineering and photon emission enables optogenetic brain stimulation. Neurological disorders and brain function research require brain stimulation. This review discusses optogenetics, a new technology that controls genetically defined neurons using light. Genetically engineered cells express light-sensitive opsin first. When engineered cells are illuminated, opsin-bound retinal conformationally shifts to open channels or pumps, depolarize or hyperpolarize cells, and activate or mute neurons. After the invention optogenetics, many opsin variants have been discovered or produced, allowing different wavelengths of light to activate or inhibit neural activity. Optogenetics has helped scientists comprehend brain circuit dysfunction that causes mental illness, stroke, heart disease, etc. Genome engineering and photon emission also enabled brain mapping. Optogenetics has transformed neuroscience and enabled new research to investigate casual roles of any particular brain circuit.