Deciphering the brain?s wiring diagram is widely thought to be necessary towards understanding how brain circuits process information. However, this goal is extremely challenging because currently available methods to study brain connectivity suffer from important limitations. In particular, there is an urgent need in neuroscience for a tool can provide the following features: (i) allow for the identification of connections between neurons located in distant parts of the brain, (ii) enable genetic manipulation of synaptically connected neurons, and (iii) allow for the simultaneous analysis of structural connectivity and neuronal function. We propose to develop and optimize a new system for visualizing and genetically manipulating neurons connected by synapses that has the potential to provide these key features. This method is called TRACT (TRansneuronal ACtivation of Transcription) and it works through genetic manipulations of two groups of neurons: the donors, which produce an artificial ligand, and the receivers, which express an engineered receptor. The interaction of the ligand and receptor across the synaptic cleft activates a transcriptional cascade in the synaptically connected neurons. We propose to engineer the components of TRACT to expand its capabilities so that researchers can perform transneuronal tracing in different contexts, including anterograde or retrograde tracing, and monosynaptic or di- synaptic tracing. In addition, we propose to advance the method so that it can be used to genetically manipulate highly specific populations of neurons based not on the genes that they express, but on the cells from which they receive synaptic input. These new tools will allow researchers to perform experiments that are not currently feasible with other available techniques, and which will provide valuable information towards understanding the complex workings of human brains and its diseases, such as autism and schizophrenia. !
One of the main obstacles towards understand how the brain works, and why some diseases such as autism or schizophrenia perturb normal brain function is that we only have a very limited knowledge about know how neurons are connected to each other, that is, the brain?s wiring diagram. We propose to generate a new tool that will allow researchers to create wiring diagrams of brains, and to figure out the function of the neurons that are connected to each other.
