Channelrhodopsin

Channelrhodopsin is a type of light-sensitive ion channel primarily derived from certain species of green algae. These proteins are important tools in the field of optogenetics, a technique that allows researchers to control neuronal activity using light. Channelrhodopsins function by changing conformation in response to light, typically blue or green wavelengths, which allows ions such as sodium or calcium to flow into the cell.