Peter Hegemann

Research Statement

AI generated · Oct 5, 2026

Peter Hegemann’s indexed work centers on the discovery and engineering of light-sensitive proteins, most notably channelrhodopsins, which he first identified as light-gated proton channels in green algae. His senior-author contributions include the landmark 2002 *Science* paper characterizing Channelrhodopsin-1 and subsequent work on ultrafast optogenetic control in neurons, as well as the conversion of channelrhodopsin into a light-gated chloride channel. He also led the characterization of a small bacterial photoactivated adenylyl cyclase (bPAC) for light modulation of cellular cAMP, and authored a review on the form and function of channelrhodopsin. Beyond his lead-author papers, Hegemann was a middle author on the foundational 2003 PNAS paper introducing Channelrhodopsin-2 as a directly light-gated cation-selective membrane channel, which has accrued over 2,700 citations and become a cornerstone of optogenetics. He also contributed to the crystal structure of the channelrhodopsin light-gated cation channel and to work on red-shifted optogenetic excitation derived from *Volvox carteri*. Across these contributions, Hegemann’s career traces the arc from basic discovery of algal photoreceptors to the molecular engineering that made them indispensable tools for controlling neural activity.

Most Cited Works

Optogenetics for light control of biological systems

Valentina Emiliani, Emilia Entcheva, Rainer Hedrich, Peter Hegemann, Kai R Konrad, Christian Lüscher, Mathias Mahn, Zhuo-Hua Pan, Ruth R Sims, Johannes Vierock, Ofer Yizhar

Nature Reviews Methods Primers2022

491Citations

Monitoring Light-induced Structural Changes of Channelrhodopsin-2 by UV-visible and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy

Eglof Ritter, Katja Stehfest, Andre Berndt, Peter Hegemann, Franz J Bartl

Research Areas

Photoreceptor and optogenetics researchPhotosynthetic Processes and MechanismsNeural dynamics and brain functionLight effects on plantsNeuroscience and Neuropharmacology Resea

Affiliations & Education

Education

1980–1984
Max-Planck-Institut für Biochemie(DE)
Dr. · Membrane Biochemistry

Employment

2005–present· now
Humboldt-Universitat zu Berlin(DE)
Professor · Exp. Biophysics
1993–2004
Universität Regensburg(DE)
Professor · Biology

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