Topic: genetically encoded calcium indicators

Although cerebellum has traditionally been considered a motor control structure, a growing body of evidence highlights its crucial role among the neural networks that subserve emotionally related behaviors. In fact, anatomical studies in rodents and functional connectivity MRI studies in humans have shown that extensive interconnections exist between the cerebellum and structures of the emotional control network, including medial prefrontal (mPFC) and parietal cortices, hippocampus, amygdala and periaqueductal gray. Accordingly, accumulating evidence supports a critical role of the cerebellum

Fluorescent calcium imaging is an essential tool for measuring cellular activity, particularly as it applies to neurons and reporting action potentials. Genetically encoded calcium indicators are incredibly versatile and particularly useful for both in vivo and in vitro research. Depending on the application and use of indicators, the desired properties can drastically change from being very bright, to a very strong signal, to having fast dynamics, or any combination of the three. However, there are several disadvantages to using existing red shifted calcium indicators, those limitations being

Perineuronal nets (PNNs), a specialized form of the extracellular matrix, enwrap subtypes of neurons and have many proposed functions including regulating adult brain plasticity. Removal of PNNs in adult mice by the bacterial enzyme chondroitinase ABC restores brain plasticity levels to that of juveniles. However, chondroitinase ABC indiscriminately degrades all chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans in the extracellular matrix, its effect is not restricted to PNNs. In contrast, several endogenous metalloproteinases specifically target PNN components. Some of these are selectively expressed in PNN-