How the discovery of microbial opsins led to the development of optogenetics.

Friedman, Jeffrey M · Cell · 2021

review · Level V

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Abstract

This year's Lasker Award recognizes Dieter Oesterhelt, Peter Hegemann, and Karl Deisseroth for their discovery of microbial opsins as light-activated ion conductors and the development of optogenetics using these proteins to regulate neural activity in awake, behaving animals. Optogenetics has revolutionized neuroscience and transformed our understanding of brain function.

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