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Hao M, Ling X, Sun Y, Wang X, Li W, Chang L, Zeng Z, Shi X, Niu M, Chen L, Liu T. Tracking endogenous proteins based on RNA editing-mediated genetic code expansion. Nat Chem Biol 2024; 20:721-731. [PMID: 38302606 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-023-01533-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Protein labeling approaches are important to study proteins in living cells, and genome editing tools make it possible to tag endogenous proteins to address the concerns associated with overexpression. Here we established RNA editing-mediated noncanonical amino acids (ncAAs) protein tagging (RENAPT) to site-specifically label endogenous proteins with ncAAs in living cells. RENAPT labels protein in a temporary and nonheritable manner and is not restricted by protospacer adjacent motif sequence. Using a fluorescent ncAA or ncAA with a bio-orthogonal reaction handle for subsequent dye labeling, we demonstrated that a variety of endogenous proteins can be imaged at their specific subcellular locations. In addition, two proteins can be tagged individually and simultaneously using two different ncAAs. Furthermore, endogenous ion channels and neuron-specific proteins can be real-time labeled in primary neurons. Thus, RENAPT presents a promising platform with broad applicability for tagging endogenous proteins in living cells to study their localization and functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Hao
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Chemical Biology Center, Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xinyu Ling
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Chemical Biology Center, Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Department of Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Yi Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Chemical Biology Center, Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xue Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Chemical Biology Center, Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Wenzhe Li
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Chemical Biology Center, Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Liying Chang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Chemical Biology Center, Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhiying Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Chemical Biology Center, Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaomeng Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Chemical Biology Center, Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Mengxiao Niu
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, College of Future Technology, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Liangyi Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, College of Future Technology, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Tao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Chemical Biology Center, Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China.
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Maurya D, Rai G, Mandal D, Mondal BC. Transient caspase-mediated activation of caspase-activated DNase causes DNA damage required for phagocytic macrophage differentiation. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114251. [PMID: 38761374 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Phagocytic macrophages are crucial for innate immunity and tissue homeostasis. Most tissue-resident macrophages develop from embryonic precursors that populate every organ before birth to lifelong self-renew. However, the mechanisms for versatile macrophage differentiation remain unknown. Here, we use in vivo genetic and cell biological analysis of the Drosophila larval hematopoietic organ, the lymph gland that produces macrophages. We show that the developmentally regulated transient activation of caspase-activated DNase (CAD)-mediated DNA strand breaks in intermediate progenitors is essential for macrophage differentiation. Insulin receptor-mediated PI3K/Akt signaling regulates the apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (Ask1)/c-Jun kinase (JNK) axis to control sublethal levels of caspase activation, causing DNA strand breaks during macrophage development. Furthermore, caspase activity is also required for embryonic-origin macrophage development and efficient phagocytosis. Our study provides insights into developmental signaling and CAD-mediated DNA strand breaks associated with multifunctional and heterogeneous macrophage differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepak Maurya
- Cytogenetics Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India
| | - Gayatri Rai
- Cytogenetics Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India
| | - Debleena Mandal
- Cytogenetics Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India
| | - Bama Charan Mondal
- Cytogenetics Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India.
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3
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Inal MA, Banzai K, Kamiyama R, Kamiyama D. Cell-type-specific Labeling of Endogenous Proteins Using the Split GFP System in Drosophila. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.06.592806. [PMID: 38826199 PMCID: PMC11140830 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.06.592806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
Accurate identification of the locations of endogenous proteins is crucial for understanding their functions in tissues and cells. However, achieving precise cell-type-specific labeling of these proteins has been challenging in vivo. A notable solution to this challenge is the self-complementing split green fluorescent protein (GFP1-10/11) system. In this paper, we present a detailed protocol for labeling endogenous proteins in a cell-type-specific manner using the GFP1-10/11 system in fruit flies. This approach depends on the automatic reconstitution of the GFP1-10 and GFP11 fragments, creating a fluorescence signal. We insert the GFP11 fragment into a specific genomic locus while expressing its counterpart, GFP1-10, through an available Gal4 driver line. The unique aspect of this system is that neither GFP1-10 nor GFP11 alone emits fluorescence, enabling the precise detection of protein localization only in Gal4-positive cells. We illustrate this technique using the adhesion molecule gene teneurin-m (Ten-m) as a model, highlighting the generation and validation of GFP11 protein trap lines via Minos-mediated integration cassette (MiMIC) insertion. Furthermore, we demonstrate the cell-type-specific labeling of Ten-m proteins in the larval brains of fruit flies. This method significantly enhances our ability to image endogenous protein localization patterns in a cell-type-specific manner and is adaptable to various model organisms beyond fruit flies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Ana Inal
- Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Kota Banzai
- Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Rie Kamiyama
- Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Daichi Kamiyama
- Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
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Mallick A, Tan HL, Epstein JM, Gaudry Q, Dacks AM. Serotonin acts through multiple cellular targets during an olfactory critical period. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.14.589413. [PMID: 38645269 PMCID: PMC11030346 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.14.589413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
Serotonin (5-HT) is known to modulate early development during critical periods when experience drives heightened levels of plasticity in neurons. Here, we take advantage of the genetically tractable olfactory system of Drosophila to investigate how 5-HT modulates critical period plasticity in the CO2 sensing circuit of fruit flies. Our study reveals that 5HT modulation of multiple neuronal targets is necessary for experience-dependent structural changes in an odor processing circuit. The olfactory CPP is known to involve local inhibitory networks and consistent with this we found that knocking down 5-HT7 receptors in a subset of GABAergic local interneurons was sufficient to block CPP, as was knocking down GABA receptors expressed by olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs). Additionally, direct modulation of OSNs via 5-HT2B expression in the cognate OSNs sensing CO2 is also essential for CPP. Furthermore, 5-HT1B expression by serotonergic neurons in the olfactory system is also required during the critical period. Our study reveals that 5-HT modulation of multiple neuronal targets is necessary for experience-dependent structural changes in an odor processing circuit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahana Mallick
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Hua Leonhard Tan
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | | | - Quentin Gaudry
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
- Senior Author: These authors contributed equally
| | - Andrew M Dacks
- Departments of Biology and Neuroscience, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA
- Senior Author: These authors contributed equally
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Ligunas GD, Paniagua G, LaBelle J, Ramos-Martinez A, Shen K, Gerlt EH, Aguilar K, Nguyen A, Materna SC, Woo S. Tissue-specific and endogenous protein labeling with split fluorescent proteins. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.28.581822. [PMID: 38464062 PMCID: PMC10925240 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.28.581822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
The ability to label proteins by fusion with genetically encoded fluorescent proteins is a powerful tool for understanding dynamic biological processes. However, current approaches for expressing fluorescent protein fusions possess drawbacks, especially at the whole organism level. Expression by transgenesis risks potential overexpression artifacts while fluorescent protein insertion at endogenous loci is technically difficult and, more importantly, does not allow for tissue-specific study of broadly expressed proteins. To overcome these limitations, we have adopted the split fluorescent protein system mNeonGreen2 1-10/11 (split-mNG2) to achieve tissue-specific and endogenous protein labeling in zebrafish. In our approach, mNG2 1-10 is expressed under a tissue-specific promoter using standard transgenesis while mNG2 11 is inserted into protein-coding genes of interest using CRISPR/Cas-directed gene editing. Each mNG2 fragment on its own is not fluorescent, but when co-expressed the fragments self-assemble into a fluorescent complex. Here, we report successful use of split-mNG2 to achieve differential labeling of the cytoskeleton genes tubb4b and krt8 in various tissues. We also demonstrate that by anchoring the mNG2 1-10 component to specific cellular compartments, the split-mNG2 system can be used to manipulate protein function. Our approach should be broadly useful for a wide range of applications.
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Breton V, Nazac P, Boulet D, Danglot L. Molecular mapping of neuronal architecture using STORM microscopy and new fluorescent probes for SMLM imaging. NEUROPHOTONICS 2024; 11:014414. [PMID: 38464866 PMCID: PMC10923464 DOI: 10.1117/1.nph.11.1.014414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 01/27/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Imaging neuronal architecture has been a recurrent challenge over the years, and the localization of synaptic proteins is a frequent challenge in neuroscience. To quantitatively detect and analyze the structure of synapses, we recently developed free SODA software to detect the association of pre and postsynaptic proteins. To fully take advantage of spatial distribution analysis in complex cells, such as neurons, we also selected some new dyes for plasma membrane labeling. Using Icy SODA plugin, we could detect and analyze synaptic association in both conventional and single molecule localization microscopy, giving access to a molecular map at the nanoscale level. To replace those molecular distributions within the neuronal three-dimensional (3D) shape, we used MemBright probes and 3D STORM analysis to decipher the entire 3D shape of various dendritic spine types at the single-molecule resolution level. We report here the example of synaptic proteins within neuronal mask, but these tools have a broader spectrum of interest since they can be used whatever the proteins or the cellular type. Altogether with SODA plugin, MemBright probes thus provide the perfect toolkit to decipher a nanometric molecular map of proteins within a 3D cellular context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor Breton
- Université Paris Cité, Institute of Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Paris, INSERM U1266, Membrane Traffic in Healthy and Diseased Brain, Paris, France
| | - Paul Nazac
- Université Paris Cité, Institute of Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Paris, INSERM U1266, Membrane Traffic in Healthy and Diseased Brain, Paris, France
| | - David Boulet
- Université Paris Cité, Institute of Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Paris, INSERM U1266, Membrane Traffic in Healthy and Diseased Brain, Paris, France
- Université Paris Cité, Institute of Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Paris, INSERM U1266, NeurImag Core Facility, Paris, France
| | - Lydia Danglot
- Université Paris Cité, Institute of Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Paris, INSERM U1266, Membrane Traffic in Healthy and Diseased Brain, Paris, France
- Université Paris Cité, Institute of Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Paris, INSERM U1266, NeurImag Core Facility, Paris, France
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Mitchell JW, Midillioglu I, Schauer E, Wang B, Han C, Wildonger J. Coordination of Pickpocket ion channel delivery and dendrite growth in Drosophila sensory neurons. PLoS Genet 2023; 19:e1011025. [PMID: 37943859 PMCID: PMC10662761 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1011025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Sensory neurons enable an organism to perceive external stimuli, which is essential for survival. The sensory capacity of a neuron depends on the elaboration of its dendritic arbor and the localization of sensory ion channels to the dendritic membrane. However, it is not well understood when and how ion channels localize to growing sensory dendrites and whether their delivery is coordinated with growth of the dendritic arbor. We investigated the localization of the DEG/ENaC/ASIC ion channel Pickpocket (Ppk) in the peripheral sensory neurons of developing fruit flies. We used CRISPR-Cas9 genome engineering approaches to tag endogenous Ppk1 and visualize it live, including monitoring Ppk1 membrane localization via a novel secreted split-GFP approach. Fluorescently tagged endogenous Ppk1 localizes to dendrites, as previously reported, and, unexpectedly, to axons and axon terminals. In dendrites, Ppk1 is present throughout actively growing dendrite branches and is stably integrated into the neuronal cell membrane during the expansive growth of the arbor. Although Ppk channels are dispensable for dendrite growth, we found that an over-active channel mutant severely reduces dendrite growth, likely by acting at an internal membrane and not the dendritic membrane. Our data reveal that the molecular motor dynein and recycling endosome GTPase Rab11 are needed for the proper trafficking of Ppk1 to dendrites. Based on our data, we propose that Ppk channel transport is coordinated with dendrite morphogenesis, which ensures proper ion channel density and distribution in sensory dendrites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josephine W. Mitchell
- Integrated Program in Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
- Biochemistry Department, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Ipek Midillioglu
- Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Ethan Schauer
- Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Bei Wang
- Weill Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Chun Han
- Weill Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Jill Wildonger
- Biochemistry Department, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
- Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
- Cell & Developmental Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
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8
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Parisi MJ, Aimino MA, Mosca TJ. A conditional strategy for cell-type-specific labeling of endogenous excitatory synapses in Drosophila. CELL REPORTS METHODS 2023; 3:100477. [PMID: 37323572 PMCID: PMC10261928 DOI: 10.1016/j.crmeth.2023.100477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Chemical neurotransmission occurs at specialized contacts where neurotransmitter release machinery apposes neurotransmitter receptors to underlie circuit function. A series of complex events underlies pre- and postsynaptic protein recruitment to neuronal connections. To better study synaptic development in individual neurons, we need cell-type-specific strategies to visualize endogenous synaptic proteins. Although presynaptic strategies exist, postsynaptic proteins remain less studied because of a paucity of cell-type-specific reagents. To study excitatory postsynapses with cell-type specificity, we engineered dlg1[4K], a conditionally labeled marker of Drosophila excitatory postsynaptic densities. With binary expression systems, dlg1[4K] labels central and peripheral postsynapses in larvae and adults. Using dlg1[4K], we find that distinct rules govern postsynaptic organization in adult neurons, multiple binary expression systems can concurrently label pre- and postsynapse in a cell-type-specific manner, and neuronal DLG1 can sometimes localize presynaptically. These results validate our strategy for conditional postsynaptic labeling and demonstrate principles of synaptic organization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J. Parisi
- Department of Neuroscience, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute of Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Bluemle Life Sciences Building, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Michael A. Aimino
- Department of Neuroscience, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute of Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Bluemle Life Sciences Building, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Timothy J. Mosca
- Department of Neuroscience, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute of Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Bluemle Life Sciences Building, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
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Li H, Sung HH, Huang YC, Cheng YJ, Yeh HF, Pi H, Giniger E, Chien CT. Fringe-positive Golgi outposts unite temporal Furin 2 convertase activity and spatial Delta signal to promote dendritic branch retraction. Cell Rep 2022; 40:111372. [PMID: 36130510 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Golgi outposts (GOPs) in dendrites are known for their role in promoting branch extension, but whether GOPs have other functions is unclear. We found that terminal branches of Drosophila class IV dendritic arborization (C4da) neurons actively grow during the early third-instar (E3) larval stage but retract in the late third (L3) stage. Interestingly, the Fringe (Fng) glycosyltransferase localizes increasingly at GOPs in distal dendritic regions through the E3 to the L3 stage. Expression of the endopeptidase Furin 2 (Fur2), which proteolyzes and inactivates Fng, decreases from E3 to L3 in C4da neurons, thereby increasing Fng-positive GOPs in dendrites. The epidermal Delta ligand and neuronal Notch receptor, the substrate for Fng-mediated O-glycosylation, also negatively regulate dendrite growth. Fng inhibits actin dynamics in dendrites, linking dendritic branch retraction to suppression of the C4da-mediated thermal nociception response in late larval stages. Thus, Fng-positive GOPs function in dendrite retraction, which would add another function to the repertoire of GOPs in dendrite arborization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsun Li
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan; Taiwan International Graduate Program in Interdisciplinary Neuroscience, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University and Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
| | - Hsin-Ho Sung
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Chun Huang
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
| | - Ying-Ju Cheng
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
| | - Hsiao-Fong Yeh
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Tao-Yuan 33302, Taiwan
| | - Haiwei Pi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Tao-Yuan 33302, Taiwan
| | - Edward Giniger
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Cheng-Ting Chien
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan; Taiwan International Graduate Program in Interdisciplinary Neuroscience, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University and Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan; Neuroscience Program of Academia Sinica, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan.
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10
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Banzai K, Shen P, Kamiyama D. A Genetic Toolkit for Simultaneous Generation of LexA- and QF-Expressing Clones in Selected Cell Types in Drosophila. Neurosci Insights 2022; 17:26331055211069939. [PMID: 35098129 PMCID: PMC8796102 DOI: 10.1177/26331055211069939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Visualization and manipulation of defined motoneurons have provided significant insights into how motor circuits are assembled in Drosophila. A conventional approach for molecular and cellular analyses of subsets of motoneurons involves the expression of a wide range of UAS transgenes using available GAL4 drivers (eg, eve promoter-fused GAL4). However, a more powerful toolkit could be one that enables a single-cell characterization of interactions between neurites from neurons of interest. Here we show the development of a UAS > LexA > QF expression system to generate randomly selected neurons expressing one of the 2 binary expression systems. As a demonstration, we apply it to visualize dendrite-dendrite interactions by genetically labeling eve+ neurons with distinct fluorescent reporters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kota Banzai
- Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Ping Shen
- Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Daichi Kamiyama
- Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
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Kesavan G, Machate A, Brand M. CRISPR/Cas9-Based Split Fluorescent Protein Tagging. Zebrafish 2021; 18:369-373. [PMID: 34495758 DOI: 10.1089/zeb.2021.0031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetically encoded fluorescent tags such as green fluorescent protein fused to protein have revolutionized cell biology as they permit high-resolution protein imaging in live systems. Split fluorescent proteins, with a small fragment of 16 amino acids, can be inserted in the coding sequence to label proteins. We demonstrate successful integration of two bright and fast maturing split fluorescent proteins, mNeon green and sfCherry2, in zebrafish, and show that they are suitable for live imaging, including time-lapse series, and that they have a high signal-to-noise ratio. Furthermore, we show that CRISPR/Cas9 can be used to generate fluorescently tagged proteins in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gokul Kesavan
- Center for Regenerative Therapies TU Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Anja Machate
- Center for Regenerative Therapies TU Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Michael Brand
- Center for Regenerative Therapies TU Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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