Journal article
Development and validation a novel FEZF2 based fluorescent reporter for corticospinal motor neurons
Metabolic brain disease, v 40(1), p17
19 Nov 2024
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Corticospinal motor neurons (CSMNs), also named upper motor neurons, are the giant pyramidal neurons called Betz cells. In mammals, the majority of CSMNs reside within layer V of the primary motor cortex, where they extend long axon bundles named the pyramidal tract into the brainstem and the spinal cord to control voluntary movement. CSMN lesions are implicated in a variety of neurodegenerative disorders, such Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Primary Lateral Sclerosis and Hereditary Spastic paraplegia. Although
FEZF2
–
CTIP2
genetic axis have been indicated as the cardinal molecular pathway underlying the development of CSMNs, these proteins are transcription factors that are mostly used to label the nuclei of CSMNs in the fixed cells and tissues. Therefore, a fluorescent reporter to mark CSMNs will be invaluable in identifying living CSMNs, including their extended processes, for time-lapse imaging and high-throughput molecular analyses with much more improved specificity. Based on the
in-silico
analysis, we identified a putative region within the promoter sequence of
FEZF2
and assembled it with an indispensable enhancer motif at its downstream of the gene to form a complex promoter that drives the expression of reporter GFP. The plasmid and virus of
FEZF2
:eGFP reporter constructs were further validated for its use in specifically labeling CSMNs in primary neuronal cultures from the embryonic rat motor cortex, postnatal mouse cortex. This innovative molecular labeling tool has the potential to offer indispensable support in diverse experimental setups, enabling a comprehensive understanding of the susceptibility and specificity of CSMNs in a wide array of neurological disorders.
Metrics
Details
- Title
- Development and validation a novel FEZF2 based fluorescent reporter for corticospinal motor neurons
- Creators
- Ronghua Wu - Nantong UniversitySkandha Ramakrishnan - Drexel UniversityHaixu Lin - Nantong UniversityZhangji Dong - Nantong UniversityMei Liu - Nantong UniversityLiang Qiang - Drexel University
- Publication Details
- Metabolic brain disease, v 40(1), p17
- Publisher
- Springer US; NEW YORK
- Number of pages
- 9
- Grant note
- 32070725 / the National Natural Science Foundation 4100083087 / the CURE program via Drexel University College of Medicine
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Neurobiology and Anatomy; College of Medicine
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001363504900006
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85209688911
- Other Identifier
- 991021963015504721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Endocrinology & Metabolism
- Neurosciences