The Neuron Imaging & Calcium Channels Team

The figure shows the evolution of the action potential of a cortical pyramidal neuron as the cell approaches the area where a toxin blocking sodium channels is photo-released. The action potential is fully blocked when the axon is positioned over this area.
Controlling ion channels activity using photoactivatable toxins
Photoactivatable toxins targeting ion channels, derived from animal venoms, have the potential to control the activity of excitable cells with high spatiotemporal precision. An international consortium including researchers from the LIPhy developed a new technology to cage these peptides, enabling precise spatiotemporal control of neuronal ion channels associated with excitability. This technology opens the gate for novel opportunities in translational research and light-guided therapeutic interventions.
Montnach J, Blömer LA, Lopez L, Filipis L, Meudal H, Lafoux A, Nicolas S, Chu D, Caumes C, Béroud R, Jopling C, Bosmans F, Huchet C, Landon C, Canepari M, De Waard M. J Physiol 599: 49-66, 2021 doi: 10.1113/JP280554. Nat Commun 3(1):417, 2021. doi: 10.1038/s41467-022-27974-w.
News
31/01/2022:
In vivo spatiotemporal control of voltage-gated ion channels by using photoactivatable peptidic toxins: our paper is published in
Nature Communications:
https://www-nature-com.proxy.insermbiblio.inist.fr/articles/s41467-022-27974-w
01/12/2021:
Welcome Fatima! Fatima Abbas started her PhD and she will work on animal models of Nav1.2 channelopathies investigating ion channels in layer-5 neocortical pyramidal neurons.
01/01/2021:
Optical measurement of physiological sodium currents in the axon initial segment: our paper is now published in the
Journal of Physiology:
https://physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1113/JP280554
26/02/2020:
The origin of physiological local mGluR1 supralinear Ca2+ signals in cerebellar Purkinje neurons: our paper is now published in the Journal of Neuroscience:
https://www.jneurosci.org/content/40/9/1795
19/12/2019:
Congratulations Luiza, you are Doctor! Luiza Filipis discussed her thesis entitled "Optical and computational study of the function of neuronal ion channels" and she obtained her PhD.
