abstract |
A VARIETY OF METHODS, DEVICES AND COMPOSITIONS ARE IMPLEMENTED FOR LIGHT-ACTIVATED MOLECULES. ONE SUCH METHOD IS IMPLEMENTED FOR GENERATING SECONDARY MESSENGERS IN A CELL. A NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE FOR EXPRESSING A CHIMERIC LIGHT RESPONSIVE MEMBRANE PROTEIN (E.G., RHODOPSIN) IS MODIFIED WITH ONE OR MORE HETEROLOGOUS RECEPTOR SUBUNITS {E.G., AN ADRENERGIC RECEPTOR (ALPHA 1, BETA2)}. THE LIGHT RESPONSIVE MEMBRANE PROTEIN IS EXPRESSED IN A CELL FOR PRODUCING A SECONDARY MESSENGER IN RESPONSE TO LIGHT. |