Live-cell single-molecule imaging with optogenetics reveals dynamics of a neuronal activity-dependent transcription factor

Abstract

Powerful imaging techniques have been developed to investigate the spatiotemporal dynamics of molecular players that are involved in various biological functions. A fine-tuned single-molecule imaging technique allows us to study the movement of transcription factors in the cell nucleus. Our technique combined with optogenetics enables us to reveal neuronal activity-dependent dynamics of transcription factors in living cortical neurons. Here, we describe the detailed experimental procedures to study the transcriptional activity with physiological stimulation in living CNS neurons.