Identification of Fluorescent Small Molecule Compounds for Synaptic Labeling by Image-Based, High-Content Screening.

ABSTRACT: Few tools are available for noninvasive imaging of synapses in the living mammalian brain. Current paradigms require the use of genetically modified mice or viral delivery of genetic material to the brain. To develop an alternative chemical approach, utilizing the recognition of synaptic components by organic small molecules, we designed an imaging-based, high-content screen in cultured cortical neurons to identify molecules based on their colocalization with fluorescently tagged synaptic proteins. We used this approach to screen a library of ∼7000 novel fluorescent dyes, and identified a series of compounds in the xanthone family that exhibited consistent synaptic labeling. Follow-up studies with one of these compounds, CX-G3, demonstrated its ability to label acidic organelles and in par

SUBMITTER: Dunn M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8919986 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature