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 show2
- EP 60
2026 Nobel Prize Predictions: Medicine, Physics & Chemistry
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- EP 61
Nobel Prize in Medicine 2026 Explained: Optogenetics
How did proteins from algae give scientists control over brain cells? We explain the 2026 Medicine Nobel, optogenetics, memory experiments and early medical applications.
Key findings1
- 01
Characterization of channelrhodopsin-2 as a directly light-gated cation channel provided a molecular tool for controlling cells with light.
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Georg Nagel, Tanjef Szellas, Wolfram Huhn, Suneel Kateriya, Nona Adeishvili, Peter Berthold, Doris Ollig, Peter Hegemann, Ernst Bamberg