A diacylglycerol photoswitching protocol for studying TRPC channel functions in mammalian cells and tissue slices

• Main Authors: Trese Leinders-Zufall, Ursula Storch, Michael Mederos y Schnitzler, Navin K. Ojha, Kohei Koike, Thomas Gudermann, Frank Zufall
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2021-06-01
• Series: STAR Protocols
• Subjects: Cell Biology; Microscopy; Neuroscience; Molecular/Chemical Probes
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666166721002343

Summary: Small molecular probes designed for photopharmacology and opto-chemogenetics are rapidly gaining widespread recognition for investigations of transient receptor potential canonical (TRPC) channels. This protocol describes the use of three photoswitchable diacylglycerol analogs—PhoDAG-1, PhoDAG-3, and OptoDArG—for ultrarapid activation and deactivation of native TRPC2 channels in mouse vomeronasal sensory neurons and olfactory type B cells, as well as heterologously expressed human TRPC6 channels. Photoconversion can be achieved in mammalian tissue slices and enables all-optical stimulation and shutoff of TRPC channels.For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Leinders-Zufall et al. (2018).