Sonogenetics is a non-invasive approach to activating neurons in Caenorhabditis elegans

Stuart Ibsen, Ada Tong, Carolyn Schutt, Sadik Esener and Sreekanth H. Chalasani ()
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Stuart Ibsen: Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies
Ada Tong: Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies
Carolyn Schutt: Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego
Sadik Esener: Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego
Sreekanth H. Chalasani: Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies

Nature Communications, 2015, vol. 6, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract A major challenge in neuroscience is to reliably activate individual neurons, particularly those in deeper brain regions. Current optogenetic approaches require invasive surgical procedures to deliver light of specific wavelengths to target cells to activate or silence them. Here, we demonstrate the use of low-pressure ultrasound as a non-invasive trigger to activate specific ultrasonically sensitized neurons in the nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans. We first show that wild-type animals are insensitive to low-pressure ultrasound and require gas-filled microbubbles to transduce the ultrasound wave. We find that neuron-specific misexpression of TRP-4, the pore-forming subunit of a mechanotransduction channel, sensitizes neurons to ultrasound stimulus, resulting in behavioural outputs. Furthermore, we use this approach to manipulate the function of sensory neurons and interneurons and identify a role for PVD sensory neurons in modifying locomotory behaviours. We suggest that this method can be broadly applied to manipulate cellular functions in vivo.

Date: 2015
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms9264

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