Scientists from Japan have demonstrated a technique that actually allows them to remotely control the movement of worms. The team implanted light-sensitive proteins into organisms, allowing them to move under green light and stand still under ultraviolet light. Organisms must be able to respond to various stimuli in the environment, such as light or chemicals, that help them find food and avoid danger. Hacking this sensory system could allow us to create remotely controlled “cyborgs” – for example, cockroaches can be controlled by electrically stimulating their antennae to instinctively walk away from a perceived obstacle.
For the new study, scientists at Osaka Metropolitan University used proteins called opsins as triggers. These proteins are sensitive to different wavelengths of light and respond by sending signals that can trigger other neurological circuits to which they depend; this field is known as optogenetics. Previous studies with opsins have shown that they can be used to restore rats’ eyesight or modulate pain in response to light.
In this case, the team used them to directly control movements. C. elegans, a small worm commonly used in laboratory research. Two opsins were inserted into these worms, one of which was implanted in sensory cells, one from mosquitoes, which caused the creatures to squirm in response to a stimulus that might be mild. A second opsin, derived from stonegrass, is sensitive to UV rays and is implanted in the motor neurons of the worms.
Together, this meant that the worms began to move under the influence of green light and completely stopped under ultraviolet radiation. The team tested the technique and found that it could work repeatedly, suggesting that the proteins do not break down with repeated exposure. This indicates that the technique can be used to create optogenetic signaling systems that perform different functions under different colors of light.
“The mosquito and bofa opsins we use are members of the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) family, which are used to sense a variety of stimuli, including odor, taste, hormones, and neurotransmitters, and this is because this system using light, various GPCRs, and their subsequent intracellular signaling. and can be used to manipulate physiological responses,” said Professor Mitsumasa Koyanagi, lead author of the study.
Exactly what applications this research might lead to is somewhat unclear, but the team says it marks a breakthrough in understanding the biology of these sensory systems and could ultimately lead to the discovery of new drugs. Source
Source: Port Altele
