An economical and highly adaptable optogenetics system for individual and population-level manipulation of Caenorhabditis elegans
Abstract
Optogenetics allows the experimental manipulation of excitable cells by a light stimulus without the need for technically challenging and invasive procedures. The high degree of spatial, temporal, and intensity control that can be achieved with a light stimulus, combined with cell type-specific expression of light-sensitive ion channels, enables highly specific and precise stimulation of excitable cells. Optogenetic tools have therefore revolutionized the study of neuronal circuits in a number of models, includingCaenorhabditis elegans. Despite the existence of several optogenetic systems that allow spatial and temporal photoactivation of light-sensitive actuators inC. elegans, their high costs and low flexibility have limited wide access to optogenetics. Here, we developed an inexpensive, easy-to-build, modular, and adjustable optogenetics device for use on different microscopes and worm trackers, which we called the OptoArm.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Aug 24, 2021
- Source ID
- 10.1186/s12915-021-01085-2
Entities
People
- E. A. A. Nollen
- L. Janssen
- M. Koopman
Organizations
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research
- Cancer Research UK
- FP7 Ideas: European Research Council
- National Institutes of Health
- United States Department of Defense