Optogenetics: The molecular basis and applications

The new field of optogenetics describes mainly the use of the light-gated ion channel, Channelrhodopsin 2 (ChR2) and of the light-driven Cl-pump Halorhodopsin (NphR) for stimulation and silencing of neurons simply by light in cultured cells as well as in brains of living animals. In order to increase the possibilities of application we have focused our research to develop new and improved tools.