AAV with GFAP(0.7) promoter driven eNpHR3.0-EGFP

This AAV expresses eNpHR3.0-EGFP 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.

NpHR is a halorhodopsin or a light-sensitive chloride channel that provides silencing of neuronal activity by hyperpolarization. It offers fast inhibition, and its peak activation falls at 589 nm.

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

This ER export motif (FCYENEV) is from the vertebrate inward rectifier potassium channel Kir2.1. The motif prevents aggregate formation, decreases intracellular accumulations, and enhances tolerability at high expression levels. This is the strategy for developing many second-generation optogenetics tools