Neuroscience Tools
Photoactivatable Botulinum Neurotoxin for Neuronal Silencing
Botulinum toxin is a protease that targets SNARE proteins involved in synaptic release of neurotransmitters. In collaboration with the Kennedy Lab, we developed a split botulinum toxin B that can be reconstituted with light. Thus, light triggers protease activity, resulting in cleavage of the SNARE target (VAMP-2) and blockage of neurotransmitter release, resulting in long-term neuronal silencing.
Light-activated Cre Recombinase
We used yeast directed evolution to engineer a second-generation photoactivatable Cre DNA recombinase, in which activity is induced with light. A split recombinase enzyme is is brought together by CRY2-CIB1 interaction, reconstituting activity in light.
See Taslimi et al, 2016 Nature Chemical Biology
Also: Meador et al., 2019 Nucleic Acids Research
