Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 7, 2025
12:48
Construction of Cell-based Neurotransmitter Fluorescent Engineered Reporters CNiFERs for Optical Detection of Neurotransmitters In Vivo
Published on: May 12, 2016
13.3K
Probing Neuropeptide Volume Transmission In Vivo by Simultaneous Near-Infrared Light-Triggered Release and Optical
Hejian Xiong1, Emre Lacin2, Hui Ouyang1
1Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, USA.
Angewandte Chemie (International Ed. in English)
|June 20, 2022
Summary
We developed PACE, a new optical method, to track neuropeptide signaling in the brain. This technique precisely measures somatostatin-14 (SST) spread, revealing its transmission patterns and degradation rates.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biotechnology
- Optical Methods
Background:
- Neuropeptides are crucial signaling molecules in the central nervous system.
- Their precise spatiotemporal spread and biological activity remain poorly understood.
- Understanding neuropeptide signaling is vital for deciphering brain function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an innovative optical approach for probing neuropeptide signaling.
- To investigate the spatiotemporal dynamics of somatostatin-14 (SST) transmission in the mouse neocortex.
- To quantify neuropeptide loss rates in vivo.
Main Methods:
- Developed an integrated optical approach: Plasmonic nAnovesicles and cell-based neurotransmitter fluorescent engineered reporter (CNiFER), termed PACE.
- Utilized near-infrared light to release small volumes (fL to pL) of exogenous SST from nanovesicles in the brain.
- Employed SST2 CNiFERs for sensitive detection (nM) of released SST.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated synchronized SST transmission within 130 μm.
- Observed markedly smaller and delayed SST transmission at distances beyond 130 μm.
- Enabled quantitative estimation of SST loss rates due to degradation and binding.
Conclusions:
- PACE provides a novel tool for studying neuropeptide volume transmission.
- The method allows for precise determination of neuropeptide spatiotemporal scales in the brain.
- This research advances our understanding of neuropeptide signaling dynamics and degradation.
