A photoisomerizable molecule, quaternary ammonium–azobenzene–quaternary ammonium (QAQ) enables reversible optical silencing of nociceptive neurons. The selective entry of QAQ into active nociceptive neurons allows spatially and temporally precise regulation of nociceptor activity in vitro and in vivo.
- Alexandre Mourot
- Timm Fehrentz
- Richard H Kramer