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Zhu Z, Sternson SM. Neuroscience: Neurons that use a stress hormone increase eating. Curr Biol 2023; 33:R1296-R1298. [PMID: 38113842 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.11.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
A neuropeptide called corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) is known for stress signaling in the brain. A study now shows that a small population of CRH-expressing neurons situated in the lateral hypothalamus area are involved in sensing olfactory food cues and promoting food consumption in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenggang Zhu
- Department of Neurosciences, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Scott M Sternson
- Department of Neurosciences, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
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2
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Stover PJ, Field MS, Andermann ML, Bailey RL, Batterham RL, Cauffman E, Frühbeck G, Iversen PO, Starke-Reed P, Sternson SM, Vinoy S, Witte AV, Zuker CS, Angelin B. Neurobiology of eating behavior, nutrition, and health. J Intern Med 2023; 294:582-604. [PMID: 37424220 DOI: 10.1111/joim.13699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
Eating behavior and food-related decision making are among the most complex of the motivated behaviors, and understanding the neurobiology of eating behavior, and its developmental dynamics, is critical to advancing the nutritional sciences and public health. Recent advances from both human and animal studies are revealing that individual capacity to make health-promoting food decisions varies based on biological and physiological variation in the signaling pathways that regulate the homeostatic, hedonic, and executive functions; past developmental exposures and current life-stage; the food environment; and complications of chronic disease that reinforce the obese state. Eating rate drives increased calorie intake and represents an important opportunity to lower rates of food consumption and energy intake through product reformulation. Understanding human eating behaviors and nutrition in the context of neuroscience can strengthen the evidence base from which dietary guidelines are derived and can inform policies, practices, and educational programs in a way that increases the likelihood they are adopted and effective for reducing rates of obesity and other diet-related chronic disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick J Stover
- Texas A&M Institute for Advancing Health through Agriculture, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Martha S Field
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Mark L Andermann
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Regan L Bailey
- Texas A&M Institute for Advancing Health through Agriculture, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | | | - Elizabeth Cauffman
- Department of Psychological Science, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Gema Frühbeck
- Department of Endocrinology & Nutrition, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, CIBEROBN, IdiSNA, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Per O Iversen
- Department of Nutrition, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Scott M Sternson
- Department of Neurosciences, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Sophie Vinoy
- Nutrition Research Department, Mondelēz Int. R&D, Saclay, France
| | - A Veronica Witte
- Cognitive Neurology, University Medical Center Leipzig, Germany & Max Planck Institute for Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Charles S Zuker
- Zuckerman Mind Brain and Behavior Institute, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Bo Angelin
- Cardiometabolic Unit, Clinical Department of Endocrinology, and Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet at Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden
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3
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Wang Y, Krabbe S, Eddison M, Henry FE, Fleishman G, Lemire AL, Wang L, Korff W, Tillberg PW, Lüthi A, Sternson SM. Multimodal mapping of cell types and projections in the central nucleus of the amygdala. eLife 2023; 12:84262. [PMID: 36661218 PMCID: PMC9977318 DOI: 10.7554/elife.84262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The central nucleus of the amygdala (CEA) is a brain region that integrates external and internal sensory information and executes innate and adaptive behaviors through distinct output pathways. Despite its complex functions, the diversity of molecularly defined neuronal types in the CEA and their contributions to major axonal projection targets have not been examined systematically. Here, we performed single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) to classify molecularly defined cell types in the CEA and identified marker genes to map the location of these neuronal types using expansion-assisted iterative fluorescence in situ hybridization (EASI-FISH). We developed new methods to integrate EASI-FISH with 5-plex retrograde axonal labeling to determine the spatial, morphological, and connectivity properties of ~30,000 molecularly defined CEA neurons. Our study revealed spatiomolecular organization of the CEA, with medial and lateral CEA associated with distinct molecularly defined cell families. We also found a long-range axon projection network from the CEA, where target regions receive inputs from multiple molecularly defined cell types. Axon collateralization was found primarily among projections to hindbrain targets, which are distinct from forebrain projections. This resource reports marker gene combinations for molecularly defined cell types and axon-projection types, which will be useful for selective interrogation of these neuronal populations to study their contributions to the diverse functions of the CEA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhan Wang
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical InstituteAshburnUnited States
| | - Sabine Krabbe
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical ResearchBaselSwitzerland
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE)BonnGermany
| | - Mark Eddison
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical InstituteAshburnUnited States
| | - Fredrick E Henry
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical InstituteAshburnUnited States
| | - Greg Fleishman
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical InstituteAshburnUnited States
| | - Andrew L Lemire
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical InstituteAshburnUnited States
| | - Lihua Wang
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical InstituteAshburnUnited States
| | - Wyatt Korff
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical InstituteAshburnUnited States
| | - Paul W Tillberg
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical InstituteAshburnUnited States
| | - Andreas Lüthi
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical ResearchBaselSwitzerland
| | - Scott M Sternson
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical InstituteAshburnUnited States
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute & Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San DiegoSan DiegoUnited States
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4
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Raper J, Eldridge MAG, Sternson SM, Shim JY, Fomani GP, Richmond BJ, Wichmann T, Galvan A. Characterization of Ultrapotent Chemogenetic Ligands for Research Applications in Nonhuman Primates. ACS Chem Neurosci 2022; 13:3118-3125. [PMID: 36279419 PMCID: PMC9910343 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.2c00525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Chemogenetics is a technique for obtaining selective pharmacological control over a cell population by expressing an engineered receptor that is selectively activated by an exogenously administered ligand. A promising approach for neuronal modulation involves the use of "Pharmacologically Selective Actuator Modules" (PSAMs); these chemogenetic receptors are selectively activated by ultrapotent "Pharmacologically Selective Effector Molecules" (uPSEMs). To extend the use of PSAM/PSEMs to studies in nonhuman primates, it is necessary to thoroughly characterize the efficacy and safety of these tools. We describe the time course and brain penetrance in rhesus monkeys of two compounds with promising binding specificity and efficacy profiles in in vitro studies, uPSEM792 and uPSEM817, after systemic administration. Rhesus monkeys received subcutaneous (s.c.) or intravenous (i.v.) administration of uPSEM817 (0.064 mg/kg) or uPSEM792 (0.87 mg/kg), and plasma and cerebrospinal fluid samples were collected over 48 h. Both compounds exhibited good brain penetrance, relatively slow washout, and negligible conversion to potential metabolites─varenicline or hydroxyvarenicline. In addition, we found that neither of these uPSEMs significantly altered the heart rate or sleep. Our results indicate that both compounds are suitable candidates for neuroscience studies using PSAMs in nonhuman primates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Raper
- Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30329, United States
| | - Mark A G Eldridge
- Laboratory of Neuropsychology, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
| | - Scott M Sternson
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, Virginia 20147, United States
- Department of Neurosciences, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Jalene Y Shim
- Laboratory of Neuropsychology, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
| | - Grace P Fomani
- Laboratory of Neuropsychology, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
| | - Barry J Richmond
- Laboratory of Neuropsychology, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
| | - Thomas Wichmann
- Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30329, United States
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
- Morris K. Udall Center of Excellence for Parkinson's Disease, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
| | - Adriana Galvan
- Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30329, United States
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
- Morris K. Udall Center of Excellence for Parkinson's Disease, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
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5
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Wang Y, Eddison M, Fleishman G, Weigert M, Xu S, Wang T, Rokicki K, Goina C, Henry FE, Lemire AL, Schmidt U, Yang H, Svoboda K, Myers EW, Saalfeld S, Korff W, Sternson SM, Tillberg PW. EASI-FISH for thick tissue defines lateral hypothalamus spatio-molecular organization. Cell 2021; 184:6361-6377.e24. [PMID: 34875226 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2021.11.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2021] [Revised: 08/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Determining the spatial organization and morphological characteristics of molecularly defined cell types is a major bottleneck for characterizing the architecture underpinning brain function. We developed Expansion-Assisted Iterative Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (EASI-FISH) to survey gene expression in brain tissue, as well as a turnkey computational pipeline to rapidly process large EASI-FISH image datasets. EASI-FISH was optimized for thick brain sections (300 μm) to facilitate reconstruction of spatio-molecular domains that generalize across brains. Using the EASI-FISH pipeline, we investigated the spatial distribution of dozens of molecularly defined cell types in the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA), a brain region with poorly defined anatomical organization. Mapping cell types in the LHA revealed nine spatially and molecularly defined subregions. EASI-FISH also facilitates iterative reanalysis of scRNA-seq datasets to determine marker-genes that further dissociated spatial and morphological heterogeneity. The EASI-FISH pipeline democratizes mapping molecularly defined cell types, enabling discoveries about brain organization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhan Wang
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Mark Eddison
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Greg Fleishman
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Martin Weigert
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, 01307 Dresden, Germany; Institute of Bioengineering, School of Life Sciences, EPFL, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Shengjin Xu
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Tim Wang
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Konrad Rokicki
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Cristian Goina
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Fredrick E Henry
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Andrew L Lemire
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Uwe Schmidt
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Hui Yang
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA; Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York 10461, USA
| | - Karel Svoboda
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Eugene W Myers
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Stephan Saalfeld
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Wyatt Korff
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Scott M Sternson
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA; Department of Neurosciences, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
| | - Paul W Tillberg
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA.
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6
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Abstract
Many patients with nervous system disorders have considerable unmet clinical needs or suffer debilitating drug side effects. A major limitation of exiting treatment approaches is that traditional small molecule pharmacotherapy lacks sufficient specificity to effectively treat many neurological diseases. Chemogenetics is a new gene therapy technology that targets an engineered receptor to cell types involved in nervous system dysfunction, enabling highly selective drug-controlled neuromodulation. Here, we discuss chemogenetic platforms and considerations for their potential application as human nervous system therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott M Sternson
- Janelia Research Campus, HHMI, 19700 Helix Dr. Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - David Bleakman
- Redpin Therapeutics, 1329, Madison Avenue, Suite 125, New York, NY 10029, USA
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7
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Eiselt AK, Chen S, Chen J, Arnold J, Kim T, Pachitariu M, Sternson SM. Hunger or thirst state uncertainty is resolved by outcome evaluation in medial prefrontal cortex to guide decision-making. Nat Neurosci 2021; 24:907-912. [PMID: 33972802 PMCID: PMC8254795 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-021-00850-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Physiological need states direct decision-making toward re-establishing homeostasis. Using a two-alternative forced choice task for mice that models elements of human decisions, we found that varying hunger and thirst states caused need-inappropriate choices, such as food seeking when thirsty. These results show limits on interoceptive knowledge of hunger and thirst states to guide decision-making. Instead, need states were identified after food and water consumption by outcome evaluation, which depended on the medial prefrontal cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne-Kathrin Eiselt
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute 19700 Helix Dr. Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Susu Chen
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute 19700 Helix Dr. Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Jim Chen
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute 19700 Helix Dr. Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Jon Arnold
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute 19700 Helix Dr. Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Tahnbee Kim
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute 19700 Helix Dr. Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Marius Pachitariu
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute 19700 Helix Dr. Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Scott M. Sternson
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute 19700 Helix Dr. Ashburn, VA 20147, USA.,Correspondence to: (S.M.S.)
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8
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Cosentino T, Fedlaoui B, Giscos-Douriez I, Fernandes-Rosa FL, Magnus C, Sternson SM, Zennaro MC, Boulkroun S. Modulation of Calcium Signaling by Chemogenetic Tools to Elucidate the Pathogenesis of Primary Aldosteronism. J Endocr Soc 2021. [PMCID: PMC8265839 DOI: 10.1210/jendso/bvab048.599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Primary aldosteronism (PA) is the most frequent form of secondary arterial hypertension. The identification of germline or somatic mutations in different genes coding for ion channels (KCNJ5, CACNA1D, CACNA1H and CLCN2) and ATPases (ATP1A1 and ATP2B3) defines PA as a channelopathy. These mutations promote increased intracellular calcium concentrations and activation of calcium signaling, the main trigger for aldosterone biosynthesis. The aim of our study was to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the development of PA by modulating calcium signaling using chemogenetic tools. We have generated two different adrenocortical H295R_S2 cell lines stably expressing different chimeric ion channels generated by fusing the mutated extracellular ligand binding domain of the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor to the ion pore domain of large Cys-loop receptor ion channel family; these receptors constitute PSAM (Pharmacologically Selective Actuator Modules). The mutations introduced in the ligand-binding domain allow to use synthetic ligands, PSEM (Pharmacologically Selective Effector Molecules) to activate the PSAM. We used two different PSAM: the chimeric receptor α7-5HT3 or a mutated acetylcholine receptor nAchR, allowing respectively modulation of sodium or calcium entry into the cells in response to the specific PSEM: Varenicline for α7-5HT3 or Compound 9S for mutated nAChR. The cells lines were characterized in terms of intracellular calcium concentrations, cell proliferation, aldosterone production and steroidogenic gene expression. Cells expressing α7-5HT3 treated for 24h with increasing concentrations of Varenicline (10–9 to 10-5M) showed increased intracellular calcium concentrations and an increase in expression of steroidogenic genes such as StAR CYP17A1, CYP21A2 and CYP11B2. Cell proliferation was not affected. Calcium entry into cells expressing the mutated nAChR receptor treated for 24h with increasing concentrations of Compound 9S (10–9 to 10-5M) induced an increase in expression of steroidogenic genes such as StAR, CYP21A2 and HSD3B2, but not CYP11B2. Similarly to the results obtained in cells expressing α7-5HT3, cell proliferation was unaffected in response to Compound 9S. These cell lines, in which we can modulate the intracellular calcium concentration « on demand », are a useful tool for a better understanding of the alterations of intracellular ion balance and calcium signaling in the pathophysiology of PA.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Maria-Christina Zennaro
- PARCC, INSERM, Université de Paris and Service de Génétique, Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Paris, France
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9
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Xu S, Yang H, Menon V, Lemire AL, Wang L, Henry FE, Turaga SC, Sternson SM. Behavioral state coding by molecularly defined paraventricular
hypothalamic cell type ensembles. Science 2020; 370:370/6514/eabb2494. [DOI: 10.1126/science.abb2494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Brains encode behaviors using neurons amenable to systematic
classification by gene expression. The contribution of molecular identity to
neural coding is not understood because of the challenges involved with
measuring neural dynamics and molecular information from the same cells. We
developed CaRMA (calcium and RNA multiplexed activity) imaging based on
recording in vivo single-neuron calcium dynamics followed by gene expression
analysis. We simultaneously monitored activity in hundreds of neurons in
mouse paraventricular hypothalamus (PVH). Combinations of cell-type marker
genes had predictive power for neuronal responses across 11 behavioral
states. The PVH uses combinatorial assemblies of molecularly defined neuron
populations for grouped-ensemble coding of survival behaviors. The
neuropeptide receptor neuropeptide Y receptor type 1 (Npy1r) amalgamated
multiple cell types with similar responses. Our results show that
molecularly defined neurons are important processing units for brain
function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengjin Xu
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Hui Yang
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
- Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Vilas Menon
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Andrew L. Lemire
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Lihua Wang
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Fredrick E. Henry
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Srinivas C. Turaga
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Scott M. Sternson
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
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10
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Sternson SM. Exploring internal state-coding across the rodent brain. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2020; 65:20-26. [PMID: 32950827 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2020.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2020] [Revised: 08/16/2020] [Accepted: 08/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The influence of peripheral physiology on goal-directed behavior involves specialized interoceptive sensory neurons that signal internal state to the brain. Here, we review recent progress to examine the impact of these specialized cell types on neurons and circuits throughout the central nervous system. These new approaches are important for understanding how the needs of the body interact and guide goal-directed behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott M Sternson
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA.
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11
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Sternson SM. Seeing the forest for the trees in obesity. Nat Metab 2020; 2:661-662. [PMID: 32719539 DOI: 10.1038/s42255-020-0259-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Scott M Sternson
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA, USA.
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12
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Winnubst J, Bas E, Ferreira TA, Wu Z, Economo MN, Edson P, Arthur BJ, Bruns C, Rokicki K, Schauder D, Olbris DJ, Murphy SD, Ackerman DG, Arshadi C, Baldwin P, Blake R, Elsayed A, Hasan M, Ramirez D, Dos Santos B, Weldon M, Zafar A, Dudman JT, Gerfen CR, Hantman AW, Korff W, Sternson SM, Spruston N, Svoboda K, Chandrashekar J. Reconstruction of 1,000 Projection Neurons Reveals New Cell Types and Organization of Long-Range Connectivity in the Mouse Brain. Cell 2019; 179:268-281.e13. [PMID: 31495573 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2019.07.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 250] [Impact Index Per Article: 50.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2019] [Revised: 05/14/2019] [Accepted: 07/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Neuronal cell types are the nodes of neural circuits that determine the flow of information within the brain. Neuronal morphology, especially the shape of the axonal arbor, provides an essential descriptor of cell type and reveals how individual neurons route their output across the brain. Despite the importance of morphology, few projection neurons in the mouse brain have been reconstructed in their entirety. Here we present a robust and efficient platform for imaging and reconstructing complete neuronal morphologies, including axonal arbors that span substantial portions of the brain. We used this platform to reconstruct more than 1,000 projection neurons in the motor cortex, thalamus, subiculum, and hypothalamus. Together, the reconstructed neurons constitute more than 85 meters of axonal length and are available in a searchable online database. Axonal shapes revealed previously unknown subtypes of projection neurons and suggest organizational principles of long-range connectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johan Winnubst
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Erhan Bas
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Tiago A Ferreira
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Zhuhao Wu
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Michael N Economo
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | | | - Ben J Arthur
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Christopher Bruns
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Konrad Rokicki
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - David Schauder
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Donald J Olbris
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Sean D Murphy
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - David G Ackerman
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Cameron Arshadi
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Perry Baldwin
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Regina Blake
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Ahmad Elsayed
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Mashtura Hasan
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Daniel Ramirez
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Bruno Dos Santos
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Monet Weldon
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Amina Zafar
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Joshua T Dudman
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Charles R Gerfen
- Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Adam W Hantman
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Wyatt Korff
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Scott M Sternson
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Nelson Spruston
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Karel Svoboda
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
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13
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Magnus CJ, Lee PH, Bonaventura J, Zemla R, Gomez JL, Ramirez MH, Hu X, Galvan A, Basu J, Michaelides M, Sternson SM. Ultrapotent chemogenetics for research and potential clinical applications. Science 2019; 364:science.aav5282. [PMID: 30872534 DOI: 10.1126/science.aav5282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2018] [Accepted: 02/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Chemogenetics enables noninvasive chemical control over cell populations in behaving animals. However, existing small-molecule agonists show insufficient potency or selectivity. There is also a need for chemogenetic systems compatible with both research and human therapeutic applications. We developed a new ion channel-based platform for cell activation and silencing that is controlled by low doses of the smoking cessation drug varenicline. We then synthesized subnanomolar-potency agonists, called uPSEMs, with high selectivity for the chemogenetic receptors. uPSEMs and their receptors were characterized in brains of mice and a rhesus monkey by in vivo electrophysiology, calcium imaging, positron emission tomography, behavioral efficacy testing, and receptor counterscreening. This platform of receptors and selective ultrapotent agonists enables potential research and clinical applications of chemogenetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J Magnus
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Peter H Lee
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Jordi Bonaventura
- Biobehavioral Imaging and Molecular Neuropsychopharmacology Unit, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Roland Zemla
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University, New York, NY 10016, USA.,Medical Scientist Training Program, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Juan L Gomez
- Biobehavioral Imaging and Molecular Neuropsychopharmacology Unit, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Melissa H Ramirez
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Xing Hu
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center and Department of Neurology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| | - Adriana Galvan
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center and Department of Neurology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| | - Jayeeta Basu
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University, New York, NY 10016, USA.,Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Michael Michaelides
- Biobehavioral Imaging and Molecular Neuropsychopharmacology Unit, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.,Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Scott M Sternson
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA.
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14
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Abstract
Chemogenetic technologies enable selective pharmacological control of specific cell populations. An increasing number of approaches have been developed that modulate different signaling pathways. Selective pharmacological control over G protein-coupled receptor signaling, ion channel conductances, protein association, protein stability, and small molecule targeting allows modulation of cellular processes in distinct cell types. Here, we review these chemogenetic technologies and instances of their applications in complex tissues in vivo and ex vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deniz Atasoy
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine and Regenerative-Restorative Medicine Research Center (REMER), Istanbul Medipol University , Istanbul , Turkey ; and Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute , Ashburn, Virginia
| | - Scott M Sternson
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine and Regenerative-Restorative Medicine Research Center (REMER), Istanbul Medipol University , Istanbul , Turkey ; and Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute , Ashburn, Virginia
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15
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Yang H, Sternson SM. Raphe Circuits on the Menu. Cell 2017; 170:409-410. [PMID: 28753420 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2017.07.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) is an important brain area for body-weight regulation. In this issue of Cell, Nectow et al. uncover cell-type-specific neural circuitry and pharmacology for appetite control within the DRN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Yang
- Janelia Research Campus, HHMI, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
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16
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Branco T, Tozer A, Magnus CJ, Sugino K, Tanaka S, Lee AK, Wood JN, Sternson SM. Near-Perfect Synaptic Integration by Nav1.7 in Hypothalamic Neurons Regulates Body Weight. Cell 2017; 165:1749-1761. [PMID: 27315482 PMCID: PMC4912688 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2016.05.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2015] [Revised: 03/27/2016] [Accepted: 04/26/2016] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Neurons are well suited for computations on millisecond timescales, but some neuronal circuits set behavioral states over long time periods, such as those involved in energy homeostasis. We found that multiple types of hypothalamic neurons, including those that oppositely regulate body weight, are specialized as near-perfect synaptic integrators that summate inputs over extended timescales. Excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) are greatly prolonged, outlasting the neuronal membrane time-constant up to 10-fold. This is due to the voltage-gated sodium channel Nav1.7 (Scn9a), previously associated with pain-sensation but not synaptic integration. Scn9a deletion in AGRP, POMC, or paraventricular hypothalamic neurons reduced EPSP duration, synaptic integration, and altered body weight in mice. In vivo whole-cell recordings in the hypothalamus confirmed near-perfect synaptic integration. These experiments show that integration of synaptic inputs over time by Nav1.7 is critical for body weight regulation and reveal a mechanism for synaptic control of circuits regulating long term homeostatic functions. Hypothalamic neurons that regulate body weight are near-perfect synaptic integrators Near-perfect synaptic integration is observed in hypothalamic neurons in vivo Near-perfect synaptic integration depends on the voltage-gated sodium channel Nav1.7 Loss of Nav1.7 in hypothalamic neurons disrupts regulation of body weight
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiago Branco
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA; Division of Neurobiology, Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK.
| | - Adam Tozer
- Division of Neurobiology, Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Christopher J Magnus
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Ken Sugino
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Shinsuke Tanaka
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Albert K Lee
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - John N Wood
- Molecular Nociception Group, Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Scott M Sternson
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA.
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17
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Abstract
The neural control of appetite is important for understanding motivated behavior as well as the present rising prevalence of obesity. Over the past several years, new tools for cell type-specific neuron activity monitoring and perturbation have enabled increasingly detailed analyses of the mechanisms underlying appetite-control systems. Three major neural circuits strongly and acutely influence appetite but with notably different characteristics. Although these circuits interact, they have distinct properties and thus appear to contribute to separate but interlinked processes influencing appetite, thereby forming three pillars of appetite control. Here, we summarize some of the key characteristics of appetite circuits that are emerging from recent work and synthesize the findings into a provisional framework that can guide future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott M Sternson
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, Virginia 20147;
| | - Anne-Kathrin Eiselt
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, Virginia 20147;
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18
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Abstract
The nucleus accumbens regulates consummatory behaviors, such as eating. In this issue of Neuron, O'Connor et al. (2015) identify dopamine receptor 1-expressing neurons that project to the lateral hypothalamus as mediating rapid control over feeding behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Nicholas Betley
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, 433 South University Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
| | - Scott M Sternson
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA.
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19
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Abstract
Advances in neuro-technology for mapping, manipulating, and monitoring molecularly defined cell types are rapidly advancing insight into neural circuits that regulate appetite. Here, we review these important tools and their applications in circuits that control food seeking and consumption. Technical capabilities provided by these tools establish a rigorous experimental framework for research into the neurobiology of hunger.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott M Sternson
- Janelia Research Campus, HHMI, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA.
| | - Deniz Atasoy
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Istanbul Medipol University, 34810 Istanbul, Turkey
| | - J Nicholas Betley
- Janelia Research Campus, HHMI, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Fredrick E Henry
- Janelia Research Campus, HHMI, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Shengjin Xu
- Janelia Research Campus, HHMI, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
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20
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Adamantidis A, Arber S, Bains JS, Bamberg E, Bonci A, Buzsáki G, Cardin JA, Costa RM, Dan Y, Goda Y, Graybiel AM, Häusser M, Hegemann P, Huguenard JR, Insel TR, Janak PH, Johnston D, Josselyn SA, Koch C, Kreitzer AC, Lüscher C, Malenka RC, Miesenböck G, Nagel G, Roska B, Schnitzer MJ, Shenoy KV, Soltesz I, Sternson SM, Tsien RW, Tsien RY, Turrigiano GG, Tye KM, Wilson RI. Optogenetics: 10 years after ChR2 in neurons--views from the community. Nat Neurosci 2015; 18:1202-12. [PMID: 26308981 DOI: 10.1038/nn.4106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Antoine Adamantidis
- Department of Psychiatry, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montréal, Canada, and the Department of Neurology, Inselspital University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Silvia Arber
- Biozentrum, Department of Cell Biology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland, and the Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jaideep S Bains
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Ernst Bamberg
- Max Planck Institute of Biophysics, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Antonello Bonci
- Intramural Research Program, Synaptic Plasticity Section, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Baltimore, Maryland, USA, the Solomon H. Snyder Neuroscience Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA, and in the Department of Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - György Buzsáki
- The Neuroscience Institute, School of Medicine and Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Jessica A Cardin
- Department of Neurobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA, and at the Kavli Institute of Neuroscience, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Rui M Costa
- Champalimaud Neuroscience Programme, Champalimaud Center for the Unknown, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Yang Dan
- Division of Neurobiology, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Yukiko Goda
- RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Wako-shi, Saitama, Japan
| | - Ann M Graybiel
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research and Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Michael Häusser
- Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research and Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Peter Hegemann
- Institut für Biologie/Experimentelle Biophysik, Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - John R Huguenard
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Thomas R Insel
- National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Patricia H Janak
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA, and the Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Daniel Johnston
- Department of Neuroscience and Center for Learning and Memory, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Sheena A Josselyn
- Program in Neurosciences and Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and the Departments of Psychology and Physiology and Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Christof Koch
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Anatol C Kreitzer
- The Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, California, USA, and the Departments of Neurology and Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Christian Lüscher
- Department of Basic Neurosciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland, and the Service of Neurology, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University Hospital of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Robert C Malenka
- Nancy Pritzker Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Gero Miesenböck
- Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University of Oxford, Tinsley Building, Mansfield Road, Oxford, UK
| | - Georg Nagel
- Institute for Molecular Plant Physiology and Biophysics, Biocenter, Julius-Maximilians-University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Botond Roska
- Neural Circuit Laboratories, Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland. Department of Ophthalmology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Mark J Schnitzer
- James H. Clark Center for Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA, and the CNC Program, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Krishna V Shenoy
- Departments of Electrical Engineering, Bioengineering and Neurobiology, the Neurosciences and Bio-X Programs, the Stanford Neurosciences Institute and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Ivan Soltesz
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Scott M Sternson
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, Virginia, USA
| | - Richard W Tsien
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, Neuroscience Institute, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Roger Y Tsien
- Department of Pharmacology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Gina G Turrigiano
- Department of Biology and Center for Behavioral Genomics, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Kay M Tye
- The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Rachel I Wilson
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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21
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott M Sternson
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
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22
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Abstract
N-Methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDA-Rs) are ion channels that are important for synaptic plasticity, which is involved in learning and drug addiction. We show enzymatic targeting of an NMDA-R antagonist, MK801, to a molecularly defined neuronal population with the cell-type-selectivity of genetic methods and the temporal control of pharmacology. We find that NMDA-Rs on dopamine neurons are necessary for cocaine-induced synaptic potentiation, demonstrating that cell type-specific pharmacology can be used to dissect signaling pathways within complex brain circuits. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.10206.001 Learning is critical to survival for humans and other animals. The learning process is regulated by receptors on the surface of brain cells called N-Methyl-D-aspartate receptors (or NMDA receptors for short). These receptors help to strengthen signals between brain cells, which allows a new concept or action to be learned. However, it has been difficult to pin down how the role of NMDA receptors selectively in specific types of brain cells. While drugs can be used to quickly block NMDA receptors throughout the brain, it is hard to target drugs to a specific cell type. Also, genetic engineering can be used to selectively knock out NMDA receptors in certain types of brain cells, but these techniques are too slow, and can take weeks or even a lifetime to work. Now, Yang et al. have developed a clever way to combine an NMDA-blocking drug and genetic engineering to study NMDA receptors' responses to cocaine in specific brain cells. This approach involved first creating an inactive form of an NMDA-blocking drug that can only becomes active when it is processed by an enzyme that is normally produced in pigs' livers. Next, living mouse brain cells, including some that were engineered to express the pig enzyme, were exposed to the drug in the laboratory. The drug blocked the NMDA receptors on brain cells that expressed the enzyme, but not the receptors on nearby brain cells that lacked the enzyme. This occurred even though all the cells produced NMDA receptors and all were exposed to the drug. NMDA receptors have been known to play an important role in cocaine addiction for more than 20 years. Drugs like cocaine can co-opt the normally healthy learning process involving NMDA receptors and lead to a maladaptive form of learning that is commonly called addiction. Cocaine strengthens signals between brain cells causing the behaviors associated with using cocaine to become deeply ingrained and difficult to change. Yang et al. used cell type-specific targeting of a drug that blocks NMDA receptors to observe what happened in cocaine-exposed brain cells with, or without, working NMDA receptors. As expected, the experiments showed that cocaine didn't strengthen brain signals in cells without working NMDA receptors. Specifically, the experiments showed that NMDA receptors on a type of brain cell that release a pleasure-inducing chemical called dopamine are necessary for cocaine–induced synaptic plasticity. The combination technique developed by Yang et al. will likely be used by other scientists to further study the role of NMDA receptors in specific brain cells during addiction and normal brain activity. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.10206.002
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunlei Yang
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, United States
| | - Peter Lee
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, United States
| | - Scott M Sternson
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, United States
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23
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Henry FE, Sugino K, Tozer A, Branco T, Sternson SM. Cell type-specific transcriptomics of hypothalamic energy-sensing neuron responses to weight-loss. eLife 2015; 4. [PMID: 26329458 PMCID: PMC4595745 DOI: 10.7554/elife.09800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 163] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2015] [Accepted: 09/02/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular and cellular processes in neurons are critical for sensing and responding to energy deficit states, such as during weight-loss. Agouti related protein (AGRP)-expressing neurons are a key hypothalamic population that is activated during energy deficit and increases appetite and weight-gain. Cell type-specific transcriptomics can be used to identify pathways that counteract weight-loss, and here we report high-quality gene expression profiles of AGRP neurons from well-fed and food-deprived young adult mice. For comparison, we also analyzed Proopiomelanocortin (POMC)-expressing neurons, an intermingled population that suppresses appetite and body weight. We find that AGRP neurons are considerably more sensitive to energy deficit than POMC neurons. Furthermore, we identify cell type-specific pathways involving endoplasmic reticulum-stress, circadian signaling, ion channels, neuropeptides, and receptors. Combined with methods to validate and manipulate these pathways, this resource greatly expands molecular insight into neuronal regulation of body weight, and may be useful for devising therapeutic strategies for obesity and eating disorders. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.09800.001 Humans and other animals must get adequate nutrition in order to survive. As a result, the body has several systems that work side by side to maintain a healthy body weight and ensure that enough food gets eaten to provide the energy that the body needs. Problems with these systems can contribute towards obesity and other eating disorders. Certain types of cells in the brain play important roles in controlling weight and appetite, although the genes and cellular mechanisms that underlie these abilities are not well understood. When an animal is deprived of food, so-called AGRP neurons produce molecules that increase appetite and make it easier to gain weight. These neurons also go through structural changes and increase their electrical activity during weight loss. Another group of cells, called the POMC neurons, becomes less active when an animal is deprived of energy. Using a technique called cell type-specific transcriptomics, Henry, Sugino et al. have now revealed that the expression of hundreds of genes in AGRP and POMC neurons changes depending on whether mice are well fed or food deprived. Food deprivation also affects more genes in AGRP neurons than has been seen in other types of brain cell, and the AGRP neurons are also more sensitive to a change in food intake than POMC neurons. In the future, this gene expression data and knowledge of the pathways affected by the genes could help researchers to develop new treatments for obesity and other disorders that affect appetite. Henry, Sugino et al. then mapped how these changes in gene expression trigger molecular “pathways” in the neurons that alter how the cells work. These affect many parts of the cells, including ion channels, transcription factors, receptors, and secreted proteins. In addition, food deprivation activated pathways in AGRP neurons that protect the cells from damage and death caused by elevated neuron activity and also triggered signaling pathways that increase body weight. In the future, this gene expression data and knowledge of the pathways affected by the genes could help researchers to develop new treatments for obesity and other disorders that affect appetite. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.09800.002
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Affiliation(s)
- Fredrick E Henry
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, United States
| | - Ken Sugino
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, United States
| | - Adam Tozer
- Division of Neurobiology, Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Tiago Branco
- Division of Neurobiology, Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Scott M Sternson
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, United States
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24
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Betley JN, Xu S, Cao ZFH, Gong R, Magnus CJ, Yu Y, Sternson SM. Neurons for hunger and thirst transmit a negative-valence teaching signal. Nature 2015; 521:180-185. [PMID: 25915020 PMCID: PMC4567040 DOI: 10.1038/nature14416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 431] [Impact Index Per Article: 47.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2014] [Accepted: 03/19/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Homeostasis is a biological principle for regulation of essential physiological parameters within a set range. Behavioural responses due to deviation from homeostasis are critical for survival, but motivational processes engaged by physiological need states are incompletely understood. We examined motivational characteristics and dynamics of two separate neuron populations that regulate energy and fluid homeostasis by using cell type-specific activity manipulations in mice. We found that starvation-sensitive AGRP neurons exhibit properties consistent with a negative-valence teaching signal. Mice avoided activation of AGRP neurons, indicating that AGRP neuron activity has negative valence. AGRP neuron inhibition conditioned preference for flavours and places. Correspondingly, deep-brain calcium imaging revealed that AGRP neuron activity rapidly reduced in response to food-related cues. Complementary experiments activating thirst-promoting neurons also conditioned avoidance. Therefore, these need-sensing neurons condition preference for environmental cues associated with nutrient or water ingestion, which is learned through reduction of negative-valence signals during restoration of homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Nicholas Betley
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Shengjin Xu
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Zhen Fang Huang Cao
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Rong Gong
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Christopher J Magnus
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Yang Yu
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Scott M Sternson
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
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25
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Atasoy D, Betley JN, Li WP, Su HH, Sertel SM, Scheffer LK, Simpson JH, Fetter RD, Sternson SM. A genetically specified connectomics approach applied to long-range feeding regulatory circuits. Nat Neurosci 2014; 17:1830-9. [PMID: 25362474 PMCID: PMC4292906 DOI: 10.1038/nn.3854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2014] [Accepted: 09/30/2014] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Synaptic connectivity and molecular composition provide a blueprint for information processing in neural circuits. Detailed structural analysis of neural circuits requires nanometer resolution, which can be obtained with serial section electron microscopy. However, this technique remains challenging for reconstructing molecularly defined synapses. We used a Genetically Encoded Synaptic marker for Electron Microscopy (GESEM) based on intra-vesicular generation of electron-dense labeling in axonal boutons. This approach allowed identification of synapses from Cre recombinase-expressing or GAL4-expressing neurons in the mouse and fly with excellent preservation of ultrastructure. We applied this tool to visualize long-range connectivity of AGRP and POMC neurons in the mouse, two molecularly defined hypothalamic populations important for feeding behavior. Combining selective ultrastructural reconstruction of neuropil with functional and viral circuit mapping, we characterized some basic features of circuit organization for axon projections of these cell types. These experiments demonstrate that GESEM-labeling enables long-range connectomics with molecularly defined cell types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deniz Atasoy
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, Virginia, USA
| | - J Nicholas Betley
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, Virginia, USA
| | - Wei-Ping Li
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, Virginia, USA
| | - Helen H Su
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, Virginia, USA
| | - Sinem M Sertel
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, Virginia, USA
| | - Louis K Scheffer
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, Virginia, USA
| | - Julie H Simpson
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, Virginia, USA
| | - Richard D Fetter
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, Virginia, USA
| | - Scott M Sternson
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, Virginia, USA
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26
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Abstract
Elucidating the roles of neuronal cell types for physiology and behavior is essential for understanding brain functions. Perturbation of neuron electrical activity can be used to probe the causal relationship between neuronal cell types and behavior. New genetically encoded neuron perturbation tools have been developed for remotely controlling neuron function using small molecules that activate engineered receptors that can be targeted to cell types using genetic methods. Here we describe recent progress for approaches using genetically engineered receptors that selectively interact with small molecules. Called "chemogenetics," receptors with diverse cellular functions have been developed that facilitate the selective pharmacological control over a diverse range of cell-signaling processes, including electrical activity, for molecularly defined cell types. These tools have revealed remarkably specific behavioral physiological influences for molecularly defined cell types that are often intermingled with populations having different or even opposite functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott M Sternson
- Janelia Farm Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, Virginia 20147;
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27
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Stachniak TJ, Ghosh A, Sternson SM. Chemogenetic synaptic silencing of neural circuits localizes a hypothalamus→midbrain pathway for feeding behavior. Neuron 2014; 82:797-808. [PMID: 24768300 PMCID: PMC4306349 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2014.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 291] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/27/2014] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Brain function is mediated by neural circuit connectivity, and elucidating the role of connections is aided by techniques to block their output. We developed cell-type-selective, reversible synaptic inhibition tools for mammalian neural circuits by leveraging G protein signaling pathways to suppress synaptic vesicle release. Here, we find that the pharmacologically selective designer Gi-protein-coupled receptor hM4D is a presynaptic silencer in the presence of its cognate ligand clozapine-N-oxide (CNO). Activation of hM4D signaling sharply reduced synaptic release probability and synaptic current amplitude. To demonstrate the utility of this tool for neural circuit perturbations, we developed an axon-selective hM4D-neurexin variant and used spatially targeted intracranial CNO injections to localize circuit connections from the hypothalamus to the midbrain responsible for feeding behavior. This synaptic silencing approach is broadly applicable for cell-type-specific and axon projection-selective functional analysis of diverse neural circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tevye J Stachniak
- Janelia Farm Research Campus, HHMI, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA; Neurobiology Section, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Anirvan Ghosh
- Neurobiology Section, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Neuroscience Discovery and Translation Area, Pharma Research and Development, F. Hoffmann-La Roche, 4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Scott M Sternson
- Janelia Farm Research Campus, HHMI, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA.
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Betley JN, Cao ZFH, Ritola KD, Sternson SM. Parallel, redundant circuit organization for homeostatic control of feeding behavior. Cell 2014; 155:1337-50. [PMID: 24315102 PMCID: PMC3970718 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2013.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 408] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2013] [Revised: 10/05/2013] [Accepted: 10/08/2013] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Neural circuits for essential natural behaviors are shaped by selective pressure to coordinate reliable execution of flexible goal-directed actions. However, the structural and functional organization of survival-oriented circuits is poorly understood due to exceptionally complex neuroanatomy. This is exemplified by AGRP neurons, which are a molecularly defined population that is sufficient to rapidly coordinate voracious food seeking and consumption behaviors. Here, we use cell-type-specific techniques for neural circuit manipulation and projection-specific anatomical analysis to examine the organization of this critical homeostatic circuit that regulates feeding. We show that AGRP neuronal circuits use a segregated, parallel, and redundant output configuration. AGRP neuron axon projections that target different brain regions originate from distinct subpopulations, several of which are sufficient to independently evoke feeding. The concerted anatomical and functional analysis of AGRP neuron projection populations reveals a constellation of core forebrain nodes, which are part of an extended circuit that mediates feeding behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Nicholas Betley
- Janelia Farm Research Campus, HHMI, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
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Abstract
New tools for mapping and manipulating molecularly defined neural circuits have improved the understanding of how the central nervous system regulates appetite. Studies that focused on Agouti-related protein neurons, a starvation-sensitive hypothalamic population, have identified multiple circuit elements that can elicit or suppress feeding behavior. Distinct axon projections of this neuron population point to different circuits that regulate long-term appetite, short-term feeding, or visceral malaise-mediated anorexia. Here, we review recent studies examining these neural circuits that control food intake.
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Abstract
Neural processes that direct an animal's actions toward environmental goals are critical elements for understanding behavior. The hypothalamus is closely associated with motivated behaviors required for survival and reproduction. Intense feeding, drinking, aggressive, and sexual behaviors can be produced by a simple neuronal stimulus applied to discrete hypothalamic regions. What can these "evoked behaviors" teach us about the neural processes that determine behavioral intent and intensity? Small populations of neurons sufficient to evoke a complex motivated behavior may be used as entry points to identify circuits that energize and direct behavior to specific goals. Here, I review recent applications of molecular genetic, optogenetic, and pharmacogenetic approaches that overcome previous limitations for analyzing anatomically complex hypothalamic circuits and their interactions with the rest of the brain. These new tools have the potential to bridge the gaps between neurobiological and psychological thinking about the mechanisms of complex motivated behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott M Sternson
- Janelia Farm Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA.
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Abstract
Mice lacking leptin receptors are grossly obese and diabetic, in part due to dysfunction in brain circuits important for energy homeostasis. Transplantation of leptin receptor-expressing hypothalamic progenitor neurons into the brains of leptin receptor deficient mice led to integration into neural circuits, reduced obesity, and normalized circulating glucose levels.
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Yang Y, Atasoy D, Su HH, Sternson SM. Hunger states switch a flip-flop memory circuit via a synaptic AMPK-dependent positive feedback loop. Cell 2011; 146:992-1003. [PMID: 21925320 PMCID: PMC3209501 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2011.07.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 314] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2010] [Revised: 06/15/2011] [Accepted: 07/15/2011] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Synaptic plasticity in response to changes in physiologic state is coordinated by hormonal signals across multiple neuronal cell types. Here, we combine cell-type-specific electrophysiological, pharmacological, and optogenetic techniques to dissect neural circuits and molecular pathways controlling synaptic plasticity onto AGRP neurons, a population that regulates feeding. We find that food deprivation elevates excitatory synaptic input, which is mediated by a presynaptic positive feedback loop involving AMP-activated protein kinase. Potentiation of glutamate release was triggered by the orexigenic hormone ghrelin and exhibited hysteresis, persisting for hours after ghrelin removal. Persistent activity was reversed by the anorexigenic hormone leptin, and optogenetic photostimulation demonstrated involvement of opioid release from POMC neurons. Based on these experiments, we propose a memory storage device for physiological state constructed from bistable synapses that are flipped between two sustained activity states by transient exposure to hormones signaling energy levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunlei Yang
- Janelia Farm Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
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Abstract
Ionic flux mediates essential physiological and behavioral functions in defined cell populations. Cell type-specific activators of diverse ionic conductances are needed for probing these effects. We combined chemistry and protein engineering to enable the systematic creation of a toolbox of ligand-gated ion channels (LGICs) with orthogonal pharmacologic selectivity and divergent functional properties. The LGICs and their small-molecule effectors were able to activate a range of ionic conductances in genetically specified cell types. LGICs constructed for neuronal perturbation could be used to selectively manipulate neuron activity in mammalian brains in vivo. The diversity of ion channel tools accessible from this approach will be useful for examining the relationship between neuronal activity and animal behavior, as well as for cell biological and physiological applications requiring chemical control of ion conductance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J Magnus
- Janelia Farm Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
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Abstract
Understanding the structure and function of neural circuits is central is neuroscience research. To address the associated questions, new genetically encoded tools have been developed for mapping, monitoring, and manipulating neurons. Essential to implementation of these tools is their selective delivery to defined neuronal populations in the brain. This has been facilitated by recent improvements in cell type-specific transgene expression using recombinant adeno-associated viral vectors. Here, we highlight these developments and discuss areas for improvement that could further expand capabilities for neural circuit analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Nicholas Betley
- Janelia Farm Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
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Aponte Y, Atasoy D, Sternson SM. AGRP neurons are sufficient to orchestrate feeding behavior rapidly and without training. Nat Neurosci 2010; 14:351-5. [PMID: 21209617 PMCID: PMC3049940 DOI: 10.1038/nn.2739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 780] [Impact Index Per Article: 55.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2010] [Accepted: 12/16/2010] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Two intermingled hypothalamic neuron populations specified by expression of agouti-related peptide (AGRP) or pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) positively and negatively influence feeding behavior, respectively, possibly by reciprocally regulating downstream melanocortin receptors. However, the sufficiency of these neurons to control behavior and the relationship of their activity to the magnitude and dynamics of feeding are unknown. To measure this, we used channelrhodopsin-2 for cell type-specific photostimulation. Activation of only 800 AGRP neurons in mice evoked voracious feeding within minutes. The behavioral response increased with photoexcitable neuron number, photostimulation frequency and stimulus duration. Conversely, POMC neuron stimulation reduced food intake and body weight, which required melanocortin receptor signaling. However, AGRP neuron-mediated feeding was not dependent on suppressing this melanocortin pathway, indicating that AGRP neurons directly engage feeding circuits. Furthermore, feeding was evoked selectively over drinking without training or prior photostimulus exposure, which suggests that AGRP neurons serve a dedicated role coordinating this complex behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yexica Aponte
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Janelia Farm Research Campus, Ashburn, Virginia, USA
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Abstract
The central actions of leptin are essential for homeostatic control of adipose tissue mass, glucose metabolism, and many autonomic and neuroendocrine systems. In the brain, leptin acts on numerous different cell types via the long-form leptin receptor (LepRb) to elicit its effects. The precise identification of leptin's cellular targets is fundamental to understanding the mechanism of its pleiotropic central actions. We have systematically characterized LepRb distribution in the mouse brain using in situ hybridization in wildtype mice as well as by EYFP immunoreactivity in a novel LepRb-IRES-Cre EYFP reporter mouse line showing high levels of LepRb mRNA/EYFP coexpression. We found substantial LepRb mRNA and EYFP expression in hypothalamic and extrahypothalamic sites described before, including the dorsomedial nucleus of the hypothalamus, ventral premammillary nucleus, ventral tegmental area, parabrachial nucleus, and the dorsal vagal complex. Expression in insular cortex, lateral septal nucleus, medial preoptic area, rostral linear nucleus, and in the Edinger-Westphal nucleus was also observed and had been previously unreported. The LepRb-IRES-Cre reporter line was used to chemically characterize a population of leptin receptor-expressing neurons in the midbrain. Tyrosine hydroxylase and Cre reporter were found to be coexpressed in the ventral tegmental area and in other midbrain dopaminergic neurons. Lastly, the LepRb-IRES-Cre reporter line was used to map the extent of peripheral leptin sensing by central nervous system (CNS) LepRb neurons. Thus, we provide data supporting the use of the LepRb-IRES-Cre line for the assessment of the anatomic and functional characteristics of neurons expressing leptin receptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael M Scott
- Division of Hypothalamic Research, Departments of Internal Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA
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Sternson SM, Shepherd GMG, Friedman JM. Topographic mapping of VMH → arcuate nucleus microcircuits and their reorganization by fasting. Nat Neurosci 2005; 8:1356-63. [PMID: 16172601 DOI: 10.1038/nn1550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 238] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2005] [Accepted: 08/25/2005] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
In the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARC), pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons inhibit feeding and neuropeptide-Y (NPY) neurons stimulate feeding. We tested whether neurons in the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMH), a known satiety center, activate anorexigenic neuronal pathways in the ARC by projecting either excitatory synaptic inputs to POMC neurons and/or inhibitory inputs to NPY neurons. Using laser scanning photostimulation in brain slices from transgenic mice, we found that POMC and NPY neurons, which are interspersed in the ARC, are nevertheless regulated by anatomically distinct synaptic inputs. POMC neurons received strong excitatory input from the medial VMH (mVMH), whereas NPY neurons did not and, instead, received weak inhibitory input only from within the ARC. The strength of the excitatory input from the mVMH to POMC neurons was diminished by fasting. These data identify a new molecularly defined circuit that is dynamically regulated by nutritional state in a manner consistent with the known role of the VMH as a satiety center.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott M Sternson
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Ave., New York, New York 10021, USA
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Wong JC, Sternson SM, Louca JB, Hong R, Schreiber SL. Modular synthesis and preliminary biological evaluation of stereochemically diverse 1,3-dioxanes. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2005; 11:1279-91. [PMID: 15380188 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2004.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2004] [Revised: 07/05/2004] [Accepted: 07/08/2004] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Modular synthesis and substrate stereocontrol were combined to furnish 18,000 diverse 1,3-dioxanes whose distribution in chemical space rivals that of a reference set of over 2,000 bioactive small molecules. Library quality was assessed at key synthetic stages, culminating in a detailed postsynthesis analysis of purity, yield, and structural characterizability, and the resynthesis of library subsets that did not meet quality standards. The importance of this analysis-resynthesis process is highlighted by the discovery of new biological probes through organismal and protein binding assays, and by determination of the building block and stereochemical basis for their bioactivity. This evaluation of a portion of the 1,3-dioxane library suggests that many additional probes for chemical genetics will be identified as the entire library becomes biologically annotated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason C Wong
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, 12 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
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Kuruvilla FG, Shamji AF, Sternson SM, Hergenrother PJ, Schreiber SL. Dissecting glucose signalling with diversity-oriented synthesis and small-molecule microarrays. Nature 2002; 416:653-7. [PMID: 11948353 DOI: 10.1038/416653a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 306] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Small molecules that alter protein function provide a means to modulate biological networks with temporal resolution. Here we demonstrate a potentially general and scalable method of identifying such molecules by application to a particular protein, Ure2p, which represses the transcription factors Gln3p and Nil1p. By probing a high-density microarray of small molecules generated by diversity-oriented synthesis with fluorescently labelled Ure2p, we performed 3,780 protein-binding assays in parallel and identified several compounds that bind Ure2p. One compound, which we call uretupamine, specifically activates a glucose-sensitive transcriptional pathway downstream of Ure2p. Whole-genome transcription profiling and chemical epistasis demonstrate the remarkable Ure2p specificity of uretupamine and its ability to modulate the glucose-sensitive subset of genes downstream of Ure2p. These results demonstrate that diversity-oriented synthesis and small-molecule microarrays can be used to identify small molecules that bind to a protein of interest, and that these small molecules can regulate specific functions of the protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Finny G Kuruvilla
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Institute for Chemistry and Cell Biology, Bauer Center for Genomics Research, Department of Chemistry, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA
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Sternson SM, Wong JC, Grozinger CM, Schreiber SL. Synthesis of 7200 small molecules based on a substructural analysis of the histone deacetylase inhibitors trichostatin and trapoxin. Org Lett 2001; 3:4239-42. [PMID: 11784187 DOI: 10.1021/ol016915f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 122] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Seventy-two hundred potential inhibitors of the histone deacetylase (HDAC) enzyme family, based on a 1,3-dioxane diversity structure, were synthesized on polystyrene macrobeads. The compounds were arrayed for biological assays in a "one bead-one stock solution" format. Metal-chelating functional groups were used to direct the 1,3-dioxanes to HDAC enzymes, which are zinc hydrolases. Representative structures from this library were tested for inhibitory activity and the 1,3-dioxane structure was shown to be compatible with HDAC inhibition. [structure: see text]
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Affiliation(s)
- S M Sternson
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), Institute of Chemistry and Cell Biology (ICCB), Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
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Sternson SM, Louca JB, Wong JC, Schreiber SL. Split--pool synthesis of 1,3-dioxanes leading to arrayed stock solutions of single compounds sufficient for multiple phenotypic and protein-binding assays. J Am Chem Soc 2001; 123:1740-7. [PMID: 11456775 DOI: 10.1021/ja0036108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Diversity-oriented organic synthesis offers the promise of advancing chemical genetics, where small molecules are used to explore biology. While the split--pool synthetic method is theoretically the most effective approach for the production of large collections of small molecules, it has not been widely adopted due to numerous technical and analytical hurdles. We have developed a split--pool synthesis leading to an array of stock solutions of single 1,3-dioxanes. The quantities of compounds are sufficient for hundreds of phenotypic and protein-binding assays. The average concentration of these stock solutions derived from a single synthesis bead was determined to be 5.4 mM in 5 microL of DMSO. A mass spectrometric strategy to identify the structure of molecules from a split--pool synthesis was shown to be highly accurate. Individual members of the 1,3-dioxane library have activity in a variety of phenotypic and protein-binding assays. The procedure developed in this study allows many assays to be performed with compounds derived from individual synthesis beads. The synthetic compounds identified in these assays should serve as useful probes of cellular and organismal processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- S M Sternson
- Harvard Institute of Chemistry and Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
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