Genetically encoded molecular tools are having impact throughout neuroscience. However, each genetically encoded molecular tool is a feat of protein engineering, requiring extensive effort to design and optimize. One appealing thought is that it might be possible to create a small number of modular protein building blocks, which then could be organized in patterns, and achieve user-programmable functions, by being scaffolded together on strands of RNA. We recently derived from the Pumilio homology domain (PumHD) protein, 4 building blocks, each of which prefers one of the 4 bases of RNA, so that for any RNA of interest in a cell, a chain made out of the 4 building blocks in a defined sequence can be created to bind to that RNA (bringing along any protein payloads that are fused to that chain). We propose to adapt this Pumilio based (or ?Pum? for short) strategy to create RNA-scaffolded molecular tools that address two major classes of problem in neuroscience ? the targeting of gene expression to specific cell types in the mammalian brain, with high specificity, without requiring transgenic animals (Aim 1), and the ability to image multiple independent fluorescent reporters of physiological activity within individual neurons without crosstalk (Aim 2). We will assess, and optimize, these scaffolded molecular tools in mice (Aims 1, 2) and a non-genetic model organism (macaques), aiming to open up new frontiers of neuroscience experimentation (Aim 3). Our grant is a fast- paced, 4-year grant, which brings together experts in neurotechnology development (Boyden), primate systems neuroscience (Desimone), and nucleic acid technology (Adamala). We will share all tools freely with the neuroscience community, in order to broadly accelerate neuroscience progress.

Public Health Relevance

The proposed research is relevant to public health because it will enable specific cell types in the brain to be targeted for observation and control, key to finding better targets for treating neurological and psychiatric disease.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01MH114031-04
Application #
9981014
Study Section
Molecular Neurogenetics Study Section (MNG)
Program Officer
Beer, Rebecca Lynn
Project Start
2017-08-25
Project End
2021-06-30
Budget Start
2020-07-07
Budget End
2021-06-30
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2020
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Department
Biology
Type
University-Wide
DUNS #
001425594
City
Cambridge
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02142