Efficient optogenetic silencing of neurotransmitter release with a mosquito rhodopsin

Item Type:	Article
Title:	Efficient optogenetic silencing of neurotransmitter release with a mosquito rhodopsin
Creators Name:	Mahn, M. and Saraf-Sinik, I. and Patil, P. and Pulin, M. and Bitton, E. and Karalis, N. and Bruentgens, F. and Palgi, S. and Gat, A. and Dine, J. and Wietek, J. and Davidi, I. and Levy, R. and Litvin, A. and Zhou, F. and Sauter, K. and Soba, P. and Schmitz, D. and Lüthi, A. and Rost, B.R. and Wiegert, J.S. and Yizhar, O.
Abstract:	Information is carried between brain regions through neurotransmitter release from axonal presynaptic terminals. Understanding the functional roles of defined neuronal projection pathways requires temporally precise manipulation of their activity. However, existing inhibitory optogenetic tools have low efficacy and off-target effects when applied to presynaptic terminals, while chemogenetic tools are difficult to control in space and time. Here, we show that a targeting-enhanced mosquito homolog of the vertebrate encephalopsin (eOPN3) can effectively suppress synaptic transmission through the G(i/o) signaling pathway. Brief illumination of presynaptic terminals expressing eOPN3 triggers a lasting suppression of synaptic output that recovers spontaneously within minutes in vitro and in vivo. In freely moving mice, eOPN3-mediated suppression of dopaminergic nigrostriatal afferents induces a reversible ipsiversive rotational bias. We conclude that eOPN3 can be used to selectively suppress neurotransmitter release at presynaptic terminals with high spatiotemporal precision, opening new avenues for functional interrogation of long-range neuronal circuits in vivo.
Keywords:	Optogenetics, Presynaptic, Silencing, Inhibitory, G Protein-Coupled Receptor, GCPR, Dopaminergic, Thalamocortical, Autaptic Neurons, Mosquito, eOPN3, Animals, Culicidae, Mice, Rats
Source:	Neuron
ISSN:	0896-6273
Publisher:	Cell Press
Volume:	109
Number:	10
Page Range:	1621-1635
Date:	19 May 2021
Additional Information:	Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc.
Official Publication:	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2021.03.013
External Fulltext:	View full text on PubMed Central
PubMed:	View item in PubMed

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