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Photosensitive Molecules for Controlling Biological Function pp 7–37Cite as

Targeting and Excitation of Photoactivatable Molecules: Design Considerations for Neurophysiology Experiments

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Part of the book series: Neuromethods ((NM,volume 55))

Abstract

Each chapter in this volume describes in detail the application of one or a group of photosensitive molecules to biological research. In this chapter, we take up general prefatory questions: how to determine which molecules are appropriate to use, and what type of compound delivery and light-targeting apparatus for photoactivation is likely to give satisfactory spatial and temporal performance. We enumerate the advantages and disadvantages of currently available “caged” and genetically encoded photosensitive molecules. We also compare current mature and emerging technologies for patterned light delivery, referring as much as possible to broadly applicable general principles. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive overview with signposts to more detailed treatments.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Karl Deisseroth, Valentina Emiliani, Jonathan A.N. Fisher, Mark McDonald, Ashlan Reid, Angus Silver, Cha-Min Tang, Stephan Thiberge, and Dejan Vučinić for helpful discussions and comments on this chapter.

E.F.C. is supported by a Robert Leet and Clara Guthrie Patterson Postdoctoral Fellowship in Brain Circuitry. J.P.R. is supported by a National Science Foundation Graduate Research fellowship. S.S.-H.W. is a W.M. Keck Foundation Distinguished Young Investigator and is supported by National Institutes of Health grant NS045193 and the National Science Foundation.

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  1. Department of Molecular Biology & Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA

    Eugene F. Civillico, J. Peter Rickgauer & Samuel S.-H. Wang

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  1. Eugene F. Civillico
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  2. J. Peter Rickgauer
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  3. Samuel S.-H. Wang
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Correspondence to J. Peter Rickgauer .

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  1. , Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, North Pleasant Street 710, Amherst, 01003, Massachusetts, USA

    James J. Chambers

  2. , Dept. of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, 94720-3200, California, USA

    Richard H. Kramer

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Civillico, E.F., Rickgauer, J.P., Wang, S.SH. (2011). Targeting and Excitation of Photoactivatable Molecules: Design Considerations for Neurophysiology Experiments. In: Chambers, J., Kramer, R. (eds) Photosensitive Molecules for Controlling Biological Function. Neuromethods, vol 55. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-031-7_2

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