机器学习指导的光敏感通道蛋白工程化使微创光学遗传学成为可能，这一成果由美国加州理工学院Frances H. Arnold和Viviana Gradinaru等研究人员合作取得。相关论文2019年10月14日在线发表于《自然—方法学》。

研究人员设计了光门控光敏感通道蛋白（ChR），其电流强度和光敏感性可实现微创神经元回路的研究。

当前应用于哺乳动物大脑的ChR工具需要进行颅内手术，以进行转基因递送和植入光缆，从而产生少量组织的光依赖性激活。为了在不需要侵入性植入的情况下促进扩展的光遗传学，研究人员的工程方法利用了大量的ChR变体文献来训练用于设计高性能ChR的统计模型。

通过在102个具有功能特征的ChR有限实验集上训练的高斯过程模型，研究人员设计了具有高光敏性的高光电流ChR。其中的三个ChRger1–3可通过全身性转基因递送实现神经系统的光遗传学激活。ChRger2无需光纤植入即可实现光诱导的神经元兴奋，也就是说，该视蛋白能够进行经颅光遗传学。

附：英文原文

Title: Machine learning-guided channelrhodopsin engineering enables minimally invasive optogenetics

Author: Claire N. Bedbrook, Kevin K. Yang, J. Elliott Robinson, Elisha D. Mackey, Viviana Gradinaru, Frances H. Arnold

Issue&Volume: 2019-10-14

Abstract: 

We engineered light-gated channelrhodopsins (ChRs) whose current strength and light sensitivity enable minimally invasive neuronal circuit interrogation. Current ChR tools applied to the mammalian brain require intracranial surgery for transgene delivery and implantation of fiber-optic cables to produce light-dependent activation of a small volume of tissue. To facilitate expansive optogenetics without the need for invasive implants, our engineering approach leverages the substantial literature of ChR variants to train statistical models for the design of high-performance ChRs. With Gaussian process models trained on a limited experimental set of 102 functionally characterized ChRs, we designed high-photocurrent ChRs with high light sensitivity. Three of these, ChRger1–3, enable optogenetic activation of the nervous system via systemic transgene delivery. ChRger2 enables light-induced neuronal excitation without fiber-optic implantation; that is, this opsin enables transcranial optogenetics.

DOI: 10.1038/s41592-019-0583-8

Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41592-019-0583-8