Cell-type-specific labeling of synapses in vivo through synaptic tagging with recombination

The study of synaptic specificity and plasticity in the CNS is limited by the inability to efficiently visualize synapses in identified neurons using light microscopy. Here, we describe synaptic tagging with recombination (STaR), a method for labeling endogenous presynaptic and postsynaptic proteins...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Neuron (Cambridge, Mass.) Mass.), 2014-01, Vol.81 (2), p.280-293
Main Authors: Chen, Yi, Akin, Orkun, Nern, Aljoscha, Tsui, C Y Kimberly, Pecot, Matthew Y, Zipursky, S Lawrence
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Animals, Genetically Modified
Artificial chromosomes
Data processing
Drosophila
Drosophila Proteins - genetics
Drosophila Proteins - metabolism
Insects
Luminescent Proteins - genetics
Luminescent Proteins - metabolism
Medulla Oblongata - cytology
Microscopy
Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
Nerve Tissue Proteins - genetics
Nerve Tissue Proteins - metabolism
Neurons
Neurons - cytology
Neurons - ultrastructure
Presynaptic Terminals - metabolism
Proteins
Receptors, Neurotransmitter - genetics
Receptors, Neurotransmitter - metabolism
Recombinases - genetics
Recombinases - metabolism
Recombination, Genetic - genetics
Studies
Synapses - genetics
Synapses - metabolism
Synapses - ultrastructure
Transcription Factors - genetics
Transcription Factors - metabolism
Visual Pathways - cytology
Visual Pathways - metabolism
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Summary:The study of synaptic specificity and plasticity in the CNS is limited by the inability to efficiently visualize synapses in identified neurons using light microscopy. Here, we describe synaptic tagging with recombination (STaR), a method for labeling endogenous presynaptic and postsynaptic proteins in a cell-type-specific fashion. We modified genomic loci encoding synaptic proteins within bacterial artificial chromosomes such that these proteins, expressed at endogenous levels and with normal spatiotemporal patterns, were labeled in an inducible fashion in specific neurons through targeted expression of site-specific recombinases. Within the Drosophila visual system, the number and distribution of synapses correlate with electron microscopy studies. Using two different recombination systems, presynaptic and postsynaptic specializations of synaptic pairs can be colabeled. STaR also allows synapses within the CNS to be studied in live animals noninvasively. In principle, STaR can be adapted to the mammalian nervous system.
ISSN:0896-6273
1097-4199
DOI:10.1016/j.neuron.2013.12.021