Optogenetics

Channelrhodopsin-2, a directly light-gated cation-selective membrane channel

In plain English

Characterization of channelrhodopsin-2 as a directly light-gated cation channel provided a molecular tool for controlling cells with light.

On the show1
  1. EP 60

    2026 Nobel Prize Predictions: Medicine, Physics & Chemistry

    Our 2026 Nobel predictions: the science behind GLP-1, light-controlled neurons, quantum interference, cellular droplets and more.

    2026 Nobel Prize Predictions: Medicine, Physics & Chemistry
Key findings1
  1. 01

    Characterization of channelrhodopsin-2 as a directly light-gated cation channel provided a molecular tool for controlling cells with light.

Authors9

Georg Nagel, Tanjef Szellas, Wolfram Huhn, Suneel Kateriya, Nona Adeishvili, Peter Berthold, Doris Ollig, Peter Hegemann, Ernst Bamberg