Simultaneous imaging of the localization of transcription and translation products in single cells in brain tissue

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 22K19355
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 46:Neuroscience and related fields
• Research Institution: Niigata University
• Principal Investigator: Mikuni Takayasu 新潟大学, 脳研究所, 教授 (90786477)
• Project Period (FY): 2022-06-30 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 分子イメージング

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Proteins are locally synthesized in neuronal dendrites to dynamically respond to external inputs. However, little is known about this local protein synthesis in the brain. Specifically, current technologies struggle to visualize the exact localizations of mRNA and the translated proteins within dendrites in brain tissue. In this study, we developed a method that leverages in vivo genome editing and molecular labeling techniques to simultaneously image the intracellular localization of endogenous mRNA and proteins in brain tissue. This research provides a new technological platform for understanding the mechanisms of various brain processes and functions at the transcriptional and translational levels.

Free Research Field

神経科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

同一細胞における遺伝子の転写および翻訳の空間情報は、様々な生命プロセスの分子メカニズムを理解する上で極めて重要である。本研究では、脳組織内の神経細胞で内在性に発現するmRNAとタンパク質の樹状突起での局在を１細胞のコントラストで同時にイメージングする方法を開発した。この方法は、様々な脳内プロセスや機能のメカニズムを転写・翻訳のレベルで統合的に理解するための技術プラットフォームを提供する。