THE CONVERSATION: How pond algae led to a Nobel and new ways to study the brain
Three researchers were honoured with the prize in physiology or medicine for revealing potential new ways to control nerve cells, and it all started with a sensible question.
A Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel for their groundbreaking research into light-gated ion channels and optogenetics. These researchers unlocked the secrets of how single-celled algae sense light, a discovery that has revolutionized our understanding of brain function.
The algae Chlamydomonas uses proteins called channelrhodopsins to respond to light. These proteins are built into the cell membrane and contain a molecule called retinaldehyde, which absorbs light. When light hits the retinaldehyde, it changes shape, causing the channelrhodopsin protein to change shape as well. This change opens a tiny passage through the cell membrane, allowing positively charged particles to flow into the cell and send a signal inside.
Researchers realized that by inserting these channelrhodopsin proteins into nerve cells, they could switch those cells on and off with light. This technique, known as optogenetics, has become a powerful research tool for scientists studying the brain. By shining light on specific groups of nerve cells, researchers can activate or inhibit their activity and observe the resulting effects on brain function.
Optogenetics has been used to study memory, sleep, sensation, and movement in animals like mice. In one experiment, scientists were able to reactivate a specific memory in mice by switching on specific nerve cells with light. This breakthrough has the potential to transform our understanding of how the brain works and could even lead to new treatments for neurological conditions such as Parkinson's and epilepsy.
The researchers' initial question about how single-celled algae sense light may seem unrelated to practical health concerns. However, the implications of their work are far-reaching. Optogenetics has opened up new avenues for understanding the brain and may eventually lead to innovative treatments for various neurological disorders.
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