LIGHT-ACTIVATED CATION CHANNEL AND USES THEREOF

• US 20070054319A1
• Filed: 07/24/2006
• Published: 03/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University (Stanford University)
• Original Assignee: Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University (Stanford University)
• Inventors: Deisseroth, Karl, Boyden, Edward
• Granted Patent: US 9,278,159 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/7.100
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 2217/05 Animals comprising random inserted nucleic acids (transgenic)
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 2227/105 Murine
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 2227/40 Fish
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 2227/703 Worms, e.g. Caenorhabdities elegans
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 2227/706 Insects, e.g. Drosophila melanogaster, medfly
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/18 Internal ear or nose parts, e.g. ear-drums implants for middle ear ventilation or drainage A61F11/202
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 2300/00 Mixtures or combinations of active ingredients, wherein at least one active ingredient is fully defined in groups A61K31/00 - A61K41/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/137 Arylalkylamines, e.g. amphetamine, epinephrine, salbutamol, ephedrine or methadone
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/353 3,4-Dihydrobenzopyrans, e.g. chroman, catechin
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/405 Indole-alkanecarboxylic acids; Derivatives thereof, e.g. tryptophan, indomethacin
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/4172 Imidazole-alkanecarboxylic acids, e.g. histidine
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 35/30 Nerves; Brain; Eyes; Corneal cells; Cerebrospinal fluid; Neuronal stem cells; Neuronal precursor cells; Glial cells; Oligodendrocytes; Schwann cells; Astroglia; Astrocytes; Choroid plexus; Spinal cord tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 38/00 Medicinal preparations containing peptides peptides containing beta-lactam rings A61K31/00; cyclic dipeptides not having in their molecule any other peptide link than those which form their ring, e.g. piperazine-2,5-diones, A61K31/00; ergot alkaloids of the cyclic peptide type A61K31/48; containing macromolecular compounds having statistically distributed amino acid units A61K31/74; medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies A61K39/00; medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients, e.g. peptides as drug carriers, A61K47/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 48/00 Medicinal preparations containing genetic material which is inserted into cells of the living body to treat genetic diseases; Gene therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/3604 characterised by the human or animal origin of the biological material, e.g. hair, fascia, fish scales, silk, shellac, pericardium, pleura, renal tissue, amniotic membrane, parenchymal tissue, fetal tissue, muscle tissue, fat tissue, enamel
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0601 Apparatus for use inside the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/062 Photodynamic therapy, i.e. excitation of an agent
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0622 Optical stimulation for exciting neural tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 17/00 Drugs for dermatological disorders
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 21/00 Drugs for disorders of the muscular or neuromuscular system
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 25/00 : Drugs for disorders of the nervous system
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 25/02 : for peripheral neuropathies
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 25/16 : Anti-Parkinson drugs
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 25/24 : Antidepressants
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 25/28 : for treating neurodegenerative disorders of the central nervous system, e.g. nootropic agents, cognition enhancers, drugs for treating Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 25/30 : for treating abuse or dependence
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 27/02 : Ophthalmic agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 29/00 : Non-central analgesic, antipyretic or antiinflammatory agents, e.g. antirheumatic agents; Non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs [NSAID]
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 3/04 : Anorexiants; Antiobesity agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 31/12 : Antivirals
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 31/18 : for HIV
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 31/20 : for DNA viruses
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 35/00 : Antineoplastic agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 43/00 : Drugs for specific purposes, not provided for in groups A61P1/00-A61P41/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 5/00 : Drugs for disorders of the endocrine system
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 5/02 : of the hypothalamic hormones, e.g. TRH, GnRH, CRH, GRH, somatostatin
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 5/06 : of the anterior pituitary hormones, e.g. TSH, ACTH, FSH, LH, PRL, GH
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 5/48 : of the pancreatic hormones
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 5/50 : for increasing or potentiating the activity of insulin
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 7/00 : Drugs for disorders of the blood or the extracellular fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 7/06 : Antianaemics
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 9/00 : Drugs for disorders of the cardiovascular system
• CPC Class Codes: C07K 14/405 : from algae
• CPC Class Codes: C07K 14/705 : Receptors; Cell surface antigens; Cell surface determinants tumour specific antigens C07K14/4748
• CPC Class Codes: C07K 2319/60 : containing spectroscopic/fluorescent detection, e.g. green fluorescent protein [GFP]
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2740/15043 : viral genome or elements thereof as genetic vector
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2740/15071 : Demonstrated in vivo effect
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2500/04 : Screening involving studying the effect of compounds C directly on molecule A (e.g. C are potential ligands for a receptor A, or potential substrates for an enzyme A)
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2500/10 : involving cells
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/6872 : Intracellular protein regulatory factors and their receptors, e.g. including ion channels
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 : Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 530/82 : Proteins from microorganisms

Abstract

The present invention provides compositions and methods for light-activated cation channel proteins and their uses within cell membranes and subcellular regions. The invention provides for proteins, nucleic acids, vectors and methods for genetically targeted expression of light-activated cation channels to specific cells or defined cell populations. In particular the invention provides millisecond-timescale temporal control of cation channels using moderate light intensities in cells, cell lines, transgenic animals, and humans. The invention provides for optically generating electrical spikes in nerve cells and other excitable cells useful for driving neuronal networks, drug screening, and therapy.

Claims

1. A method of predicting potential ion channel modulating properties of a drug comprising:

(a) expressing a light-activated cation channel protein and an ion channel of interest in a cell;

(b) exposing said cell to light and monitoring a first response in said cell;

(c) exposing said cell to a candidate drug;

(d) further exposing said cell to light and monitoring a second response in said cell;

(e) determining an ion channel modulating property of said candidate drug based on a comparison of said first and second response.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the monitoring of the responses comprises optical imaging of changes in fluorescence in said cell.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the monitoring of the responses comprises monitoring a signal transduction pathway in said cell.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said monitoring of signal transduction is performed with an antibody, fluorescent small molecule, or a genetically encoded indicator.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said method is performed to evaluate for selective effects of said candidate drug on said ion channel of interest.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein a differential effect of said candidate drug on channel splice variants, channel isoforms, channels expressed differentially in separate neuron types, channels expressed differentially in separate parts of the brain, channels expressed differentially in different organs, or channels that are expressed differentially over time is evaluated.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said ion channel of interest is a HERG channel.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the light-activated cation channel protein is ChR2, Chop2, ChR2-310, or Chop2-310.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the light-activated cation channel protein is coded by a sequence of SEQ ID No. 2 or SEQ ID No. 3.