Making use of a genetic code to reconstruct neurons

There are different types of neurons in our brains, each of which has its own genetic tags that define their functions. Neurons all originate from progenitor cells - these specialized stem cells have the ability to divide and produce neurons.

Now, neuroscientists from the University of Geneva Medical School clarify the mechanism of progenitor cells generating neurons. By developing a new technology called FlashTag, researchers isolated and developed the neurons at the special moments and decoded the genetic code which makes it possible to construct neurons.

The study published in the March 3 journal Science found that not only allows researchers to understand the developmental mechanisms of our brain, but also know how to use the genetic code to make stem cells to reconstruct the neurons. Now researchers will be able to better understand the underlying mechanisms of autism and schizophrenia and other neurological diseases.

Under the leadership of Medicine Department of Neuroscience based neuroscientist Denis Jabaudon the University of Geneva, Switzerland, the researchers developed a technique called FlashTag developing them at that moment neurons generated. With this method, in progenitor cell division at the moment, it is marked on a persist in progeny cells fluorescent marker. Scientists can then be isolated and developing new neurons dynamically generated observation gene in their first few hours of expression. Over time, researchers can study their evolution and changes in gene expression.

"In the past, we can only get a few pictures to reconstruct the history of neurons, leaving a lot of space to carry out their own speculation. Thanks FlashTag, now full genetic movie show in front of us. From the beginning of each moment can be seen, so that we can understand the development of the situation, identify the main features of their mutual and incentives for, "Denis Jabaudon said. A study in mice cerebral cortex, scientists have revealed the neuronal differentiation indicates the sequence of events, new neurons to guide early transcription wave ultimate cell fate, identified key genes neuronal development, confirming their expression dynamic crucial for normal brain development.

Access by neurons formed the original password; this study found that helps us understand the function of neurons in the adult brain mechanisms. Neurodegenerative diseases seem some of these genes with the primitive neural development and many years occurred about. This indicates that the moment generated neurons may show a tendency after some environmental factors may influence the occurrence of subsequent disease. By understanding the genetic choreographer neurons, the researchers were able to observe from the outset of these genes show, predict disease identified potential anomalies.

After successfully reading the genetic code, scientists will be able to rewrite it in newborn neurons. By changing the expression of certain genes, they can accelerate the growth of neurons, thereby changing the script development. With FlashTag, now isolated from newborn neurons in vitro reconstruction of brain circuits become possible, which allows scientists to test their capabilities and develop new therapies.

Developed a powerful tool for the study of neurological brain research has important significance. On the same day in the journal Cell, researchers from Columbia University two articles to demonstrate a new method to fully identify the type of neurons. This approach will help people to quantitative analysis neuronal diversity in all regions of the brain.

In November 2015, Stanford University research team recently in Science magazine published a technological breakthrough. They develop imaging tools electrical activity of individual neurons in conscious living animals, so that people understand the neuronal activity reached unprecedented depth.

In October 2014, researchers from the University of California, San Diego constructed a new type of cell with a fluorescent dye. This dye can respond to specific neurochemical and changes color. These researchers transplanted cells into the mammalian brain in vivo, thus they could observe how the nerve signals change a food reward learning process. The research results were published in the journal Nature Methods.

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