| Title: | Mapping neural circuits with activity-dependent nuclear import of a transcription factor |
| Author(s): | Masuyama K; Zhang Y; Rao Y; Wang JW; |
| Address: | "Neurobiology Section, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California , USA" |
| DOI: | 10.3109/01677063.2011.642910 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1563-5260 (Electronic) 0167-7063 (Print) 0167-7063 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Abstract: Nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) is a calcium-responsive transcription factor. We describe here an NFAT-based neural tracing method-CaLexA (calcium-dependent nuclear import of LexA)-for labeling active neurons in behaving animals. In this system, sustained neural activity induces nuclear import of the chimeric transcription factor LexA-VP16-NFAT, which in turn drives green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter expression only in active neurons. We tested this system in Drosophila and found that volatile sex pheromones excite specific neurons in the olfactory circuit. Furthermore, complex courtship behavior associated with multi-modal sensory inputs activated neurons in the ventral nerve cord. This method harnessing the mechanism of activity-dependent nuclear import of a transcription factor can be used to identify active neurons in specific neuronal population in behaving animals" |
| Keywords: | "Active Transport, Cell Nucleus/genetics Animals Cell Nucleus/genetics/*metabolism Drosophila NFATC Transcription Factors/genetics/*metabolism Nerve Net/*metabolism Neurons/*metabolism Olfactory Pathways/*metabolism Signal Transduction/genetics;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineMasuyama, Kaoru Zhang, Yi Rao, Yi Wang, Jing W eng R01 DC009597/DC/NIDCD NIH HHS/ R21DC010458/DC/NIDCD NIH HHS/ R01 DK092640/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/ R21 DC010458/DC/NIDCD NIH HHS/ R01DCD009597/PHS HHS/ Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 2012/01/13 J Neurogenet. 2012 Mar; 26(1):89-102. doi: 10.3109/01677063.2011.642910. Epub 2012 Jan 12" |
