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A genetically encoded reporter of synaptic activity in vivo

journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-08, 15:59 authored by Elena Dreosti, Benjamin Odermatt, Mario M Dorostkar, Leon LagnadoLeon Lagnado
To image synaptic activity within neural circuits, we tethered the genetically encoded calcium indicator (GECI) GCaMP2 to synaptic vesicles by fusion to synaptophysin. The resulting reporter, SyGCaMP2, detected the electrical activity of neurons with two advantages over existing cytoplasmic GECIs: it identified the locations of synapses and had a linear response over a wider range of spike frequencies. Simulations and experimental measurements indicated that linearity arises because SyGCaMP2 samples the brief calcium transient passing through the presynaptic compartment close to voltage-sensitive calcium channels rather than changes in bulk calcium concentration. In vivo imaging in zebrafish demonstrated that SyGCaMP2 can assess electrical activity in conventional synapses of spiking neurons in the optic tectum and graded voltage signals transmitted by ribbon synapses of retinal bipolar cells. Localizing a GECI to synaptic terminals provides a strategy for monitoring activity across large groups of neurons at the level of individual synapses.

History

Publication status

  • Published

Journal

Nature Methods

ISSN

1548-7091

Publisher

Nature Publishing Group

Volume

6

Page range

883-889

Department affiliated with

  • Neuroscience Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2013-10-04

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    University of Sussex (Publications)

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