Advances in the labelling and selective manipulation of synapses

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Synapses are vital neuronal structures for neurotransmission and brain information processing.
• Understanding synaptic roles beyond neurotransmission and their dynamic regulation is ongoing.
• Current genetically encoded fluorescent tools offer insights but face limitations in selective synapse visualization and manipulation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an overview of existing synapse labeling techniques.
• To describe extensions of these techniques for synapse manipulation.
• To categorize and compare the advantages and limitations of different approaches.

Main Methods:

• Review and categorization of synapse labeling techniques based on conceptual bases and target molecules.
• Analysis of current methodologies for selective visualization, labeling, and manipulation of synapses.
• Identification of potential modifications to enhance the effectiveness of these techniques.

Main Results:

• A comprehensive overview of available synapse labeling and manipulation techniques is presented.
• These methods are categorized by their underlying principles and molecular targets.
• A comparative analysis highlights the strengths and weaknesses of each approach.

Conclusions:

• Existing synapse labeling techniques offer valuable tools for neuroscience research.
• Further development is needed to overcome challenges in selective synapse visualization and manipulation.
• Improved methods will enhance the investigation of synaptic function and synaptopathies.