Patent ID: 8647870

Claim:
A biological photoreceptor, which is a directly light-controlled ion channel, comprising (i) an apoprotein that comprises amino acids 61 to 310 of SEQ ID NO:1 that is Channelopsin 1 (CHOP-1) protein; and (ii) a light-sensitive polyene covalently bound to the apoprotein, said polyene interacting with the apoprotein and functioning as a direct light-sensitive gate, wherein the light-sensitive polyene is a retinal derivative selected from the group consisting of 3,4-dehydroretinal, 13-ethylretinal, 9-dm-retinal, 3-hydroxyretinal, 4-hydroxyretinal, naphthylretinal; 3,7,11-trimethyl-dodeca-2,4,6,8,10-pentaenal; 3,7-dimethyl-deca-2,4,6,8-tetraenal; 3,7-dimethyl-octa-2,4,6-trienal; and 6-7 rotation-blocked retinals, 8-9 rotation-blocked retinals, and 10-11 rotation-blocked retinal.