Imaging neuropeptide release at synapses with a genetically engineered reporter.

Ding, Keke; Han, Yifu; Seid, Taylor W; Buser, Christopher; Karigo, Tomomi; Zhang, Shishuo; Dickman, Dion K; Anderson, David J · Elife · 2019

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Research on neuropeptide function has advanced rapidly, yet there is still no spatio-temporally resolved method to measure the release of neuropeptides in vivo. Here we introduce Neuropeptide Release Reporters (NPRRs): novel genetically-encoded sensors with high temporal resolution and genetic specificity. Using the <i>Drosophila</i> larval neuromuscular junction (NMJ) as a model, we provide evidence that NPRRs recapitulate the trafficking and packaging of native neuropeptides, and report stimulation-evoked neuropeptide release events as real-time changes in fluorescence intensity, with sub-second temporal resolution.

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