Mapping Neural Circuits with Activity-Dependent Nuclear Import of a Transcription Factor

• Published in: Journal of neurogenetics Vol. 26; no. 1; pp. 89 - 102
• Main Authors: Masuyama, Kaoru, Zhang, Yi, Rao, Yi, Wang, Jing W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Informa Healthcare 01.03.2012; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Active Transport, Cell Nucleus - genetics; activity dependent; Animals; antennal lobe; Cell Nucleus - genetics; Cell Nucleus - metabolism; Drosophila; immediate-early gene; N2A; Nerve Net - metabolism; Neurons - metabolism; NFAT; NFATC Transcription Factors - genetics; NFATC Transcription Factors - metabolism; olfaction; Olfactory Pathways - metabolism; Original; pheromone; Signal Transduction - genetics
• ISSN: 0167-7063; 1563-5260
• DOI: 10.3109/01677063.2011.642910

Nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) is a calcium-responsive transcription factor. We describe here an NFAT-based neural tracing method-CaLexA (calcium-dependent nuclear import of LexA)-for labeling active neurons in behaving animals. In this system, sustained neural activity induces nuclear import of the chimeric transcription factor LexA-VP16-NFAT, which in turn drives green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter expression only in active neurons. We tested this system in Drosophila and found that volatile sex pheromones excite specific neurons in the olfactory circuit. Furthermore, complex courtship behavior associated with multi-modal sensory inputs activated neurons in the ventral nerve cord. This method harnessing the mechanism of activity-dependent nuclear import of a transcription factor can be used to identify active neurons in specific neuronal population in behaving animals.