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Exploring Mechanisms of Synaptic Plasticity Using Exogenous Expression of Proteins at the Sensory-to-Motor Neuron Synapse of Aplysia

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Multidisciplinary Tools for Investigating Synaptic Plasticity

Part of the book series: Neuromethods ((NM,volume 81))

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Abstract

The use of expression constructs to drive exogenous expression of proteins has long been a pillar of cell and molecular biology. In this chapter, we will focus on two particular uses for this technique in studying synaptic plasticity, using Aplysia californica as a model: first, the use of overexpressed fluorescent proteins as reporters for live imaging of signal transduction pathways that are activated during synaptic plasticity and, second, exogenous expression of dominant negatives to test the role of specific signaling pathways in synaptic plasticity. The advantages and disadvantages of these techniques will be discussed followed by detailed experimental methods describing how to use these techniques.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurobiology, National Center for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore, Karnataka, India

    Daniel B. Weatherill

  2. Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada

    Tyler W. Dunn, Patrick K. McCamphill & Wayne S. Sossin

Authors
  1. Daniel B. Weatherill
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  2. Tyler W. Dunn
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  3. Patrick K. McCamphill
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  4. Wayne S. Sossin
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Medicine, Department of Physiology, University of Alberta, Medical Sciences Building 7-14, Edmonton, T6G 2H7, Alberta, Canada

    Peter Nguyen

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© 2013 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

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Weatherill, D.B., Dunn, T.W., McCamphill, P.K., Sossin, W.S. (2013). Exploring Mechanisms of Synaptic Plasticity Using Exogenous Expression of Proteins at the Sensory-to-Motor Neuron Synapse of Aplysia . In: Nguyen, P. (eds) Multidisciplinary Tools for Investigating Synaptic Plasticity. Neuromethods, vol 81. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-517-0_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-517-0_3

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-62703-516-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-62703-517-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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