ChrimsonR
ChrimsonR is a genetically encoded, red‑shifted channelrhodopsin that functions as a light‑gated cation channel in optogenetics. It was engineered by mutagenesis of the wild‑type channelrhodopsins originally isolated from marine algae; the key modifications shifted its peak spectral sensitivity from the blue-green range to around 590–610 nm, allowing activation with far‑red light. This spectral shift reduces phototoxicity and scattering in deep tissue, enabling deeper and more precise stimulation in living organisms.
The ion conductance of ChrimsonR is largely non‑selective, permitting a mixture of Na⁺, K⁺, and Ca²⁺ to
In research, ChrimsonR is widely used to manipulate neuronal populations in vivo, especially in combination with
Commercially, ChrimsonR plasmids and viral vectors are available from several biotech suppliers, and it is frequently