Improved Methods for Fluorescence Microscopy Detection of Macromolecules at the Axon Initial Segment.

ABSTRACT: The axonal initial segment (AIS) is the subcellular compartment required for initiation of the action potential in neurons. Scaffolding and regulatory proteins at the AIS cluster with ion channels ensuring the integrity of electrical signaling. Interference with the configuration of this protein network can lead to profound effects on neuronal polarity, excitability, cell-to-cell connectivity and brain circuit plasticity. As such, the ability to visualize AIS components with precision provides an invaluable opportunity for parsing out key molecular determinants of neuronal function. Fluorescence-based immunolabeling is a sensitive method for morphological and molecular characterization of fine structures in neurons. Yet, even when combined with confocal microscopy, detection of AIS element

SUBMITTER: Alshammari MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4754416 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature