AAV with GFAP(0.7) promoter driven C1V1(E122T/E162T)-TS-TdTomato

This AAV expresses C1V1(E122T/E162T)-TS-TdTomato driven by an astrocyte GFAP(0.7) promoter.

This 0.7 Kb novel GFAP promoter was constructed by ligating several key regulatory elements of the 2.2Kb human GFAP promoter. It drives essentially the same expression pattern as the parental 2.2 Kb GFAP promoter but with two-fold greater activity.

C1V1 is a chimeric channelrhodopsin made to boost membrane expression higher than VChR1 but with a different light spectrum. It is composed of ChR1 and VChR1 fragments, and implements fast, potent optical excitation at red-shifted wavelengths. C1V1(E122T/162T) is highly efficient in neurons, with a maximum absorption at 530nM with a narrow action spectra. Off-kinetics is 35ms.

The trafficking signal (KSRITSEGEYIPLDQIDINV) is also from the inward rectifier potassium channel Kir2.1; it serves to dramatically reduce intracellular accumulation and improve membrane targeting, leading to a profound increase of photocurrents. This is the basis for many third-generation optogenetics tools