美国达特茅斯Geisel医学院Marnie E. Halpern团队近期取得重要工作进展，他们研究提出了斑马鱼神经回路的跨突触标记和转录控制。相关研究成果2024年12月19日在线发表于《自然—神经科学》杂志上。

据介绍，破译连接组，即大脑功能背后的突触连接的集合，是神经科学研究的核心目标。

研究人员报告了斑马鱼突触前和突触后伴侣之间连接的体内定位，通过采用最初为果蝇顺行跨突触追踪开发的跨Tango遗传方法。在幼虫视网膜、大脑和脊髓中的突触伙伴之间可以看到神经连接，并跟踪其过度发育。

功能实验证实了标记的特异性，其中突触前脊髓中间神经元的光遗传学激活在已知的运动神经元突触后靶标中引发了反应，这是通过基因编码的钙指示剂的跨Tango依赖性表达或电生理学来测量的。

总之，这一研究通过trans-Tago的跨突触信号传导揭示了斑马鱼神经系统中的突触连接，为随着时间的推移监测和询问神经回路提供了一种有价值的体内工具。

附：英文原文

Title: Transsynaptic labeling and transcriptional control of zebrafish neural circuits

Author: Coomer, Cagney E., Naumova, Daria, Talay, Mustafa, Zolyomi, Bence, Snell, Nathaniel J., Sorka, Altar, Chanchu, Jean Michel, Cheng, Ji, Roman, Ivana, Li, Jennifer, Robson, Drew, McLean, David L., Barnea, Gilad, Halpern, Marnie E.

Issue&Volume: 2024-12-19

Abstract: Deciphering the connectome, the ensemble of synaptic connections that underlie brain function, is a central goal of neuroscience research. Here we report the in vivo mapping of connections between presynaptic and postsynaptic partners in zebrafish, by adapting the trans-Tango genetic approach that was first developed for anterograde transsynaptic tracing in Drosophila. Neural connections were visualized between synaptic partners in larval retina, brain and spinal cord and followed over development. The specificity of labeling was corroborated by functional experiments in which optogenetic activation of presynaptic spinal cord interneurons elicited responses in known motor neuronal postsynaptic targets, as measured by trans-Tango-dependent expression of a genetically encoded calcium indicator or by electrophysiology. Transsynaptic signaling through trans-Tango reveals synaptic connections in the zebrafish nervous system, providing a valuable in vivo tool to monitor and interrogate neural circuits over time.

DOI: 10.1038/s41593-024-01815-z

Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41593-024-01815-z