Auxin-mediated rapid degradation of target proteins in hippocampal neurons

In this study, we employed this technology to postmitotic neurons to address whether the auxin-inducible degron system could be applied to the nervous system. Using adeno-associated viruses, we simultaneously introduced enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) fused with an auxin-inducible degron tag and an F-box family protein, TIR1 from Oryza sativa (OsTIR1), into hippocampal neurons from mice. In dissociated hippocampal neurons, EGFP enhanced green fluorescent protein fluorescence signals rapidly decreased when adding a plant hormone, auxin. Furthermore, auxin-induced enhanced green fluorescent protein degradation was also observed in hippocampal acute slices. Taken together, these results open the door for neuroscientists to manipulate protein expression levels by the auxin-inducible degron system in a temporally controlled manner.
Source: NeuroReport - Category: Neurology Tags: Cellular, Molecular and Developmental Neuroscience Source Type: research