Title |
Silencer-delimited transgenesis: NRSE/RE1 sequences promote neural-specific transgene expression in a NRSF/REST-dependent manner
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Published in |
BMC Biology, November 2012
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DOI | 10.1186/1741-7007-10-93 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Xiayang Xie, Jonathan R Mathias, Marie-Ange Smith, Steven L Walker, Yong Teng, Martin Distel, Reinhard W Köster, Howard I Sirotkin, Meera T Saxena, Jeff S Mumm |
Abstract |
We have investigated a simple strategy for enhancing transgene expression specificity by leveraging genetic silencer elements. The approach serves to restrict transgene expression to a tissue of interest - the nervous system in the example provided here - thereby promoting specific/exclusive targeting of discrete cellular subtypes. Recent innovations are bringing us closer to understanding how the brain is organized, how neural circuits function, and how neurons can be regenerated. Fluorescent proteins enable mapping of the 'connectome', optogenetic tools allow excitable cells to be short-circuited or hyperactivated, and targeted ablation of neuronal subtypes facilitates investigations of circuit function and neuronal regeneration. Optimally, such toolsets need to be expressed solely within the cell types of interest as off-site expression makes establishing causal relationships difficult. To address this, we have exploited a gene 'silencing' system that promotes neuronal specificity by repressing expression in non-neural tissues. This methodology solves non-specific background issues that plague large-scale enhancer trap efforts and may provide a means of leveraging promoters/enhancers that otherwise express too broadly to be of value for in vivo manipulations. |
X Demographics
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
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Canada | 1 | 33% |
United States | 1 | 33% |
Unknown | 1 | 33% |
Demographic breakdown
Type | Count | As % |
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Members of the public | 2 | 67% |
Scientists | 1 | 33% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
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Germany | 1 | 2% |
Korea, Republic of | 1 | 2% |
Unknown | 42 | 95% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
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Student > Ph. D. Student | 12 | 27% |
Researcher | 8 | 18% |
Student > Master | 4 | 9% |
Student > Bachelor | 3 | 7% |
Professor > Associate Professor | 3 | 7% |
Other | 4 | 9% |
Unknown | 10 | 23% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 11 | 25% |
Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 10 | 23% |
Neuroscience | 6 | 14% |
Medicine and Dentistry | 3 | 7% |
Psychology | 1 | 2% |
Other | 3 | 7% |
Unknown | 10 | 23% |