ATLAS: a rationally designed anterograde transsynaptic tracer.

ABSTRACT: Genetically modified rabies virus can map neural circuits retrogradely from genetically determined cells. However, similar tools for anterograde tracing are not available. Here, we describe a method for anterograde transsynaptic tracing from genetically determined neurons based on a rationally designed protein, ATLAS. Expression of ATLAS in neurons causes presynaptic release of a payload composed of an antibody-like protein, AMPA.FingR, which binds to the N terminus of GluA1, and a recombinase. In the synaptic cleft, AMPA.FingR binds to GluA1, causing the payload to be endocytosed into postsynaptic cells and delivered to the nucleus, where it triggers expression of a recombinase-dependent reporter. In mice, ATLAS mediates monosynaptic transneuronal tracing from random or genetically determ

SUBMITTER: Rivera JF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12074993 | biostudies-literature | 2025 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature