Neurons can be labeled with unique hues by helper virus-free HSV-1 vectors expressing Brainbow.

ABSTRACT:

Background

A central problem in neuroscience is elucidating synaptic connections, the connectome. Because mammalian forebrains contain many neurons, labeling specific neurons with unique tags is desirable. A novel technology, Brainbow, creates hundreds of hues by combinatorial expression of multiple fluorescent proteins (FPs).

New method

We labeled small numbers of neurons, and their axons, with unique hues, by expressing Brainbow from a helper virus-free Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV-1) vector.

Results

The vector expresses a Brainbow cassette containing four FPs from a glutamatergic-specific promoter. Packaging HSV-Brainbow produced arrays of seven to eight Brainbow cassettes, and using Cre, each FP gene was in a position to be expressed, in different cassettes. Delivery

SUBMITTER: Zhang GR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4670084 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature