The targeting vector contains a CAG (CMV-IE enhancer/chicken, beta-actin/rabbit-globin hybrid promoter), an FRT site, a loxP-flanked STOP cassette, a FLAG-tagged EGFP reporter gene fused to the channelrhodopsin-2 from the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii modified to contain a E123A substitution (COP4*E123A), a woodchuck hepatitis virus post-transcriptional regulatory element (WPRE; to enhance the mRNA transcript stability), a poly-A signal, and an attB/att-flanked PGK-FRT-Neo-poly-A cassette. (J:236450)