Biocytin, a chemical compound that is an amide formed from the vitamin biotin and the amino acid L-lysine, has been used as a histological dye to stain nerve cells. Electrophysiological activity and morphology are two key characteristics of neurons, but revealing both the electrophysiological and morphological properties of the same neuron is challenging. This article introduces a detailed and easy-to-operate procedure for single-cell labeling in combination with whole-cell patch-clamp recording.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAlthough the deubiquitinase cylindromatosis (CYLD), an abundant protein in the postsynaptic density fraction, plays a crucial role in mediating the synaptic activity of the striatum, the precise molecular mechanism remains largely unclear. Here, using a -knockout mouse model, we demonstrate that CYLD regulates dorsolateral striatum (DLS) neuronal morphology, firing activity, excitatory synaptic transmission, and plasticity of striatal medium spiny neurons , likely, interaction with glutamate receptor 1 (GluA1) and glutamate receptor 2 (GluA2), two key subunits of alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid receptors (AMPARs). CYLD deficiency reduces levels of GluA1 and GluA2 surface protein and increases K63-linked ubiquitination, resulting in functional impairments both in AMPAR-mediated excitatory postsynaptic currents and in AMPAR-dependent long-term depression.
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