Title | An E3-ligase-based method for ablating inhibitory synapses. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2016 |
Authors | Gross GG, Straub C, Perez-Sanchez J, Dempsey WP, Junge JA, Roberts RW, Trinh LA, Fraser SE, De Koninck Y, De Koninck P, Sabatini BL, Arnold DB |
Journal | Nat Methods |
Date Published | 2016 Jun 6 |
ISSN | 1548-7105 |
Abstract | Although neuronal activity can be modulated using a variety of techniques, there are currently few methods for controlling neuronal connectivity. We introduce a tool (GFE3) that mediates the fast, specific and reversible elimination of inhibitory synaptic inputs onto genetically determined neurons. GFE3 is a fusion between an E3 ligase, which mediates the ubiquitination and rapid degradation of proteins, and a recombinant, antibody-like protein (FingR) that binds to gephyrin. Expression of GFE3 leads to a strong and specific reduction of gephyrin in culture or in vivo and to a substantial decrease in phasic inhibition onto cells that express GFE3. By temporarily expressing GFE3 we showed that inhibitory synapses regrow following ablation. Thus, we have created a simple, reversible method for modulating inhibitory synaptic input onto genetically determined cells. |
DOI | 10.1038/nmeth.3894 |
Alternate Journal | Nat. Methods |
PubMed ID | 27271196 |