Abstract
Synaptic specializations are difficult to visualize at the light microscope level in living preparations. To circumvent this problem, synaptic vesicle proteins were fused to green fluorescent protein (GFP) and expressed in C. elegans neurons. C. elegans synaptobrevin-GFP and synaptogyrin-GFP fusion proteins were observed to target to synaptic sites. This localization allowed the visualization of synaptic specializations in living animals with light microscopy. Restricted expression of synaptobrevin-GFP fusions in subsets of neurons enables the visualization of individual presynaptic varicosities. The cell biology underlying the sorting of synaptic vesicle proteins, trafficking of vesicles to terminals, and the development of presynaptic specializations is now more amenable to forward genetic analysis using these synaptic markers.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Amino Acid Sequence
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Animals
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Animals, Genetically Modified
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Caenorhabditis elegans
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Gene Transfer Techniques
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Genes, Helminth
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Genes, Reporter
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Green Fluorescent Proteins
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Luminescent Proteins / analysis*
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Luminescent Proteins / genetics
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Membrane Proteins / analysis
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Membrane Proteins / chemistry
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Membrane Proteins / genetics*
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Nerve Tissue Proteins / analysis
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Nerve Tissue Proteins / chemistry
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Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics*
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Neurons / cytology*
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Neurons / physiology*
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Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods
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R-SNARE Proteins
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Recombinant Fusion Proteins / biosynthesis
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Sequence Alignment
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Synapses / physiology*
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Synapses / ultrastructure*
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Synaptic Vesicles / physiology
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Synaptic Vesicles / ultrastructure
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Synaptogyrins
Substances
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Luminescent Proteins
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Membrane Proteins
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Nerve Tissue Proteins
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R-SNARE Proteins
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Recombinant Fusion Proteins
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Synaptogyrins
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Green Fluorescent Proteins