Mapping neuronal identities and connections in neural circuits by light microscope | Dawen Cai |
Summary :
Neural circuits, composed of intercellular connected neurons with distinct properties lay the physical foundation of any brain function. Identifying subtype and connections of individual neurons in a circuit is the key to understand how information is processed and propagated in the brain. In order to obtain a detailed wiring diagram between neurons, we developed a series of multiplex labeling and profiling, sample preparation, and image processing tools to allow neuronal identity and connectivity features being directly measured by super-resolution light microscopy in a densely labeled mouse brain. Designed to be carried out with standard surgical, imaging and computational instrumentations, our comprehensive circuit mapping tool set will allow high-resolution, high-throughput neural circuit mapping in a regular neuroscience laboratory.
About Author :
Dr. Cai’s overall passion is to combine biophysical approaches, imaging techniques, and computational tools to understand how complex neural circuits are formed in the brain. During his postdoctoral training, he successfully optimized a novel labeling technique, termed Brainbow, which uses the random expression of three or four fluorescent proteins to generate a unique color label for each neuron to decode and reconstruct densely labeled neuronal circuits. His lab focuses on using systems approaches to study the complex nervous system at the single cell resolution in Drosophila and mouse brains. His lab has been developing genetic labeling, imaging, circuit mapping, high-throughput single cell profiling, and computational tools to unambiguously label, identify and analyze thousands of neurons in the same brain.
