Genetic manipulation of the mammalian visual system is currently limited by available tools for targeting gene knockout or overexpression to specific neuronal cell types, and is further hampered by an incomplete understanding of the normal gene expression in those cell types. This proposed studies will use a novel genetic strategy, lentiviral enhancer trapping, to generate new driver strains of mice expressing cre recombinase and tet activator in specific cell types. Recently developed cell type specific expression profiling will be used to map gene expression in these and other neurons within the central visual system. The genetic and genomic tools and resources developed will then be used to study the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying experience dependent plasticity in layer 4 input neurons and layer 6 output neurons of the primary visual cortex.

Public Health Relevance

Many features of the visual system visual system are conserved across mammals. This project will develop genetic tools for identifying and manipulating specific neuronal cell types within the mouse visual system and will map patterns of gene expression within these cell types. The genetic and genomic tools developed will be used to investigate mechanisms of experience dependent plasticity in the visual cortex.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01EY022360-04
Application #
8917960
Study Section
Mechanisms of Sensory, Perceptual, and Cognitive Processes Study Section (SPC)
Program Officer
Flanders, Martha C
Project Start
2012-09-01
Project End
2016-08-31
Budget Start
2015-09-01
Budget End
2016-08-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2015
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Brandeis University
Department
Biology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
616845814
City
Waltham
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
Steinmetz, Celine C; Tatavarty, Vedakumar; Sugino, Ken et al. (2016) Upregulation of ?3A Drives Homeostatic Plasticity by Rerouting AMPAR into the Recycling Endosomal Pathway. Cell Rep 16:2711-2722
Shima, Yasuyuki; Sugino, Ken; Hempel, Chris Martin et al. (2016) A Mammalian enhancer trap resource for discovering and manipulating neuronal cell types. Elife 5:e13503