Tracing neuronal circuits in transgenic animals by transneuronal control of transcription (TRACT).

ABSTRACT: Understanding the computations that take place in brain circuits requires identifying how neurons in those circuits are connected to one another. We describe a technique called TRACT (TRAnsneuronal Control of Transcription) based on ligand-induced intramembrane proteolysis to reveal monosynaptic connections arising from genetically labeled neurons of interest. In this strategy, neurons expressing an artificial ligand ('donor' neurons) bind to and activate a genetically-engineered artificial receptor on their synaptic partners ('receiver' neurons). Upon ligand-receptor binding at synapses the receptor is cleaved in its transmembrane domain and releases a protein fragment that activates transcription in the synaptic partners. Using TRACT in Drosophila we have confirmed the connectivity betwe

SUBMITTER: Huang TH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5777821 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature