Alexey Alekseev

Abstract Transient receptor potential vanilloid type-1 (TRPV1) channel is a polymodal receptor involved in pain perception and neuronal signalling that represents a promising target for the development of analgesics and neuroprotective agents. In this study we implement a combination of computational techniques and targeted design of chemical libraries to discover benzothiophene-substituted TRPV1 agonists with high affinity and efficacy toward TRPV1.

Abstract The patch-clamp technique offers unparalleled insight into the electrical and biophysical behavior of excitable cells. However, it is a slow and low-throughput method that typically requires cells to be measured one by one. Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CM) are regularly subjected to this technique to unravel the molecular mechanisms of cardiac diseases.

Abstract Optogenetic control is used to manipulate the activity of specific cell types in vivo for a variety of biological and clinical applications. Here we report ChReef, an improved variant of the channelrhodopsin ChRmine. ChReef offers minimal photocurrent desensitization, a unitary conductance of 80 fS and closing kinetics of 30 ms, which together enable reliable optogenetic control of cells at low light levels with good temporal fidelity and sustained stimulation.