Summary
Anqi Zhang, a postdoctoral scholar at Stanford, transitioned from building brain implants to mastering genetic engineering. In collaboration with Professors Zhenan Bao and Karl Deisseroth, Zhang developed a protein complex that helps neurons assemble conductive materials, potentially changing their sensitivity and creating new electrical connections. By using cellular machinery, Zhang overcame challenges in enzyme placement, successfully utilizing the CD2 protein to guide enzymes to the cell surface. This innovation could revolutionize minimally invasive brain interfaces and has broad applications in neuroscience. Zhang’s team is exploring further possibilities, including using light to stimulate polymer formation in specific neurons. Their research, published in Science Advances, offers new insights for the future of brain recording and stimulation.