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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 27, 2026

Simultaneous Two-photon In Vivo Imaging of Synaptic Inputs and Postsynaptic Targets in the Mouse Retrosplenial Cortex

Simultaneous Two-photon In Vivo Imaging of Synaptic Inputs and Postsynaptic Targets in the Mouse Retrosplenial Cortex

Published on: March 13, 2016

mGRASP enables mapping mammalian synaptic connectivity with light microscopy.

Jinhyun Kim¹, Ting Zhao, Ronald S Petralia

¹Janelia Farm Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, Virginia, USA. kimj@kist.re.kr

|December 6, 2011

Summary

Researchers developed mammalian GRASP (mGRASP), a novel technique for precisely mapping synapses in the mammalian brain. This method enables high-resolution visualization of synaptic connections in complex neural circuits.

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Molecular Biology
Biotechnology

Background:

The GFP reconstitution across synaptic partners (GRASP) technique visualizes synapses with high spatial resolution.
Existing GRASP methods require significant adaptation for effective use in mammalian brains.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop and validate an optimized GRASP technique for mammalian synapses.
To enable high-resolution synaptic mapping in the mouse brain.

Main Methods:

Engineered chimeric synaptic mGRASP fragments using in silico protein design.
Optimized transmembrane split-GFP carriers for mammalian synapses.
Integrated molecular, cellular, and computational approaches for 3D neuronal reconstruction.

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Published on: August 23, 2022

Examining Monosynaptic Connections in Drosophila Using Tetrodotoxin Resistant Sodium Channels

Examining Monosynaptic Connections in Drosophila Using Tetrodotoxin Resistant Sodium Channels

Published on: February 14, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 27, 2026

Simultaneous Two-photon In Vivo Imaging of Synaptic Inputs and Postsynaptic Targets in the Mouse Retrosplenial Cortex

Simultaneous Two-photon In Vivo Imaging of Synaptic Inputs and Postsynaptic Targets in the Mouse Retrosplenial Cortex

Published on: March 13, 2016

Simultaneous Imaging of Microglial Dynamics and Neuronal Activity in Awake Mice

Simultaneous Imaging of Microglial Dynamics and Neuronal Activity in Awake Mice

Published on: August 23, 2022

Examining Monosynaptic Connections in Drosophila Using Tetrodotoxin Resistant Sodium Channels

Examining Monosynaptic Connections in Drosophila Using Tetrodotoxin Resistant Sodium Channels

Published on: February 14, 2018

Main Results:

Successfully developed mammalian GRASP (mGRASP) for in vivo synaptic visualization.
Demonstrated efficient delivery and GFP fluorescence reconstitution at synaptic locations.
Applied mGRASP to analyze synaptic distribution in mouse hippocampal and thalamocortical circuits.

Conclusions:

mGRASP is a powerful tool for accurate and high-resolution synaptic mapping in mammalian neural circuits.
The technique facilitates detailed analysis of synaptic organization in both long-range and local neuronal networks.