The present invention relates to an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising i) a nucleotide sequence coding for a hyperpolarizing light-gated ion channel or pump gene from an archeon or for a light-active fragment of said gene, or the nucleotide sequence and ii) a nucleotide sequence coding for a neurotrophic factor for use in the treatment of a retinal degenerative disease.

The present invention relates to an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising i) a nucleotide sequence coding for a hyperpolarizing light-gated ion channel or pump gene from an archeon or for a light-active fragment of said gene, or the nucleotide sequence and ii) a nucleotide sequence coding for a neurotrophic factor for use in the treatment of a retinal degenerative disease.

The present invention relates to the use of an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence coding for a hyperpolarizing light-gated ion channel or pump gene from an archeon or for a light-active fragment of said gene, or the nucleotide sequence complementary to said nucleotide sequence, for treating or ameliorating blindness. The light-gated ion channel or pump gene can be a halorhodopsin gene.

The present invention relates to the use of an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence coding for a hyperpolarizing light-gated ion channel or pump gene from an archeon or for a light-active fragment of said gene, or the nucleotide sequence complementary to said nucleotide sequence, for treating or ameliorating blindness. The light-gated ion channel or pump gene can be a halorhodopsin gene.

The present invention provides compositions and methods for the selective silencing of neurons in pain pathway by using a combination of inhibitory light-sensitive protein gene transfer and wavelength specific illumination.

The present invention provides compositions and methods for the selective silencing of neurons in pain pathway by using a combination of inhibitory light-sensitive protein gene transfer and wavelength specific illumination.

Provided herein are variants of an archaerhodopsin useful for application such as optical measurement of membrane potential. The present invention also relates to polynucleotides encoding the variants; nucleic acid constructs, vectors, cells comprising the polynucleotides, and cells comprising the polypeptides; and methods of using the variants.

Provided herein are variants of an archaerhodopsin useful for application such as optical measurement of membrane potential. The present invention also relates to polynucleotides encoding the variants; nucleic acid constructs, vectors, cells comprising the polynucleotides, and cells comprising the polypeptides; and methods of using the variants.

The invention provides reversible bio sensitized photoelectric conversion and H.sub.2 to electricity conversion devices which use one or more of a proton pumping photoactive biological layers to generate a proton gradient that is harnessed to produce electrical energy. It is also provided a photoelectric conversion element that incorporates the device of the present invention

Provided herein are variants of an archaerhodopsin useful for application such as optical measurement of membrane potential. The present invention also relates to polynucleotides encoding the variants; nucleic acid constructs, vectors, cells comprising the polynucleotides, and cells comprising the polypeptides; and methods of using the variants.