The protein makes it possible to use light outside the skull to control brain activity

Jun 30, 2014 20:09 GMT  ·  By
“Jaws” protein lets researchers use light sources outside the skull to control brain activity
   “Jaws” protein lets researchers use light sources outside the skull to control brain activity

Researchers with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the United States claim to have found a way to control brain activity with the help of light sources outside the skull and a so-called Jaws protein.

Writing in the journal Nature Geoscience, they argue that, all things considered, their achievement could pave the way to the development of new and more efficient treatment options for epilepsy and other neurological disorders.

In their paper, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology scientists explain that, up until now, optogenetics, i.e. controlling brain activity by shinning light on neurons, required that light sources be implanted in the brain.

The problem is that, quite often, implanting devices that shine light on very specific neurons is a complicated and risky thing to do. This is especially true for experiments carried out on brains transformed by neurological disorders or simple growth.

Looking to solve this problem, the researchers have developed a molecule that they call the Jaws protein and that, according to them, has the potential to make the brain react to light sources outside the skull.

As detailed in the paper in the journal Nature Geoscience, this so-called Jaws protein is basically a custom-made version of light-sensitive molecules found in two bacteria known as Haloarcula marismortui and Haloarcula vallismortis.

Courtesy of its makeup, the Jaws protein is not only especially sensitive to red light, which has been shown to penetrate deeper into living tissue than blue or green light do, but also able to generate enough electric current in response to light to shut down neural activity.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers say that, with the help of this especially designed protein, they have until now managed to successfully pull the plug on neuronal activity at depths of 3 millimeters in the brain.

Truth be told, their experiments were carried out on mice, and it might be a while until the researchers obtain similar results in the case of animals with slightly larger brains. However, the technology was as efficient as invasive illumination, which means these scientists really are on to something.

Interestingly enough, it is believed that this so-called Jaws protein could also help restore eyesight in the case of people diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a condition that causes light-sensitive retinal cells dubbed cones to become atrophied.

Commenting on the outcome of these experiments, researcher Ed Boyden said, “This exemplifies how the genomic diversity of the natural world can yield powerful reagents that can be of use in biology and neuroscience.”