Monitoring Neuronal Connections
This story should be a companion piece to the one above: Caltech engineers have developed a “transneuronal control of transcription” (TRACT) which uses fluorescent markers to visualize neuronal communication across synapses. “With TRACT, when a neuron “talks”—or transmits a chemical or electrical signal across a synapse—it will also produce and send along a fluorescent protein that lights up both the talking neuron and its synapses with a particular color. Any neurons “listening” to the signal receive this protein, which binds to a so-called receptor molecule—genetically built-in by the researchers—on the receiving neuron’s surface. The binding of the signal protein activates the receptor and triggers the neuron it’s attached to in order to produce its own, differently colored fluorescent protein. In this way, communication between neurons becomes visible. Using a type of microscope that can peer through a thin window installed on the fly’s head, the researchers can observe the colorful glow of neural connections in real time as the fly grows, moves, and experiences changes in its environment.” MORE
Image Credit: Lois Laboratory/CalTech