Principles of light-induced charge transfer for optogenetics

The growing field of optogenetics exploits the genetic encoding of photoactive proteins to control physiological processes, switching on and off specific molecular events in a controlled way, with high spatiotemporal resolution and in a wavelength-dependent fashion. Yet, the potential applications of photoreceptors in optogenetics are still far from being fully realised and key limitations to improve the performance of optogenetic devices still exist.

The workshop focuses on the the discussion of current optogenetic challenges from a chemicophysical perspective, highlighting the main achievements and open questions in this timely and stimulating research field.

The workshop will bring together leading experts in the field of theoretical and experimental investigation of photoreceptor proteins, excited state properties of biological matter and charge transfer processes. Ground-breaking recent results that contribute to the achievement of a deeper understanding of photoreceptor mechanisms at the microscopic level will be presented, as well as methodological challenges and advances to reach a robust and reliable description of the involved complex processes. Ample discussion among all the participants will be promoted, providing a state-of-the-art picture of our current knowledge and future challenges of this cutting edge interdisciplinary topic.

The workshop will emphasize new results and point out new directions, challenges and opportunities in the following fields:

• Charge transfer processes in light-sensitive proteins,
• Excited state properties of biological matter,
• Photoreceptor thermodynamics and photocycle kinetics,
• Interplay between photoexcitation and protein conformations.