Optogenetics technique to study brain function (CAT#: STEM-PET-0022-WXH)

Introduction

Optogenetics refers to the combination of optical and genetic means to precisely control the activity of specific neurons. This technique uses molecular biology, virus biology and other means to introduce exogenous light-sensitive protein genes into living cells, and expresses the light-sensitive channel protein on the cell membrane structure. The activation and closure of sensitive channel proteins; the activation and closure of light-sensitive proteins can control the opening and closing of ion channels on the cell membrane, thereby changing the changes in cell membrane voltage, such as membrane depolarization and hyperpolarization. When the depolarization of the membrane voltage exceeds a certain threshold, it will induce neurons to produce conductive electrical signals, that is, the activation of neurons; on the contrary, when the membrane voltage is hyperpolarized to a certain level, it will inhibit the generation of neuronal action potentials , that is, neuron inhibition.