Expression of foreign proteins in a human neuronal system.
The NT2N cell system offers an attractive way to overcome some of the technical limitations inherent in working with primary neuronal cultures. In particular, it is possible to obtain large quantities of neurons with which to perform biochemical experiments, and the growth of neurites can be synchronized and controlled by varying the substrate on which the cells grow. In addition, because the differentiated NT2N neurons are derived from a mitotically active precursor cell line in vitro, it is possible to employ a variety of techniques, that are not otherwise available when working directly with postmitotic neurons, to obtain expression of foreign proteins. Because they are fully polarized, NT2N cells offer a way to study protein sorting to axons and dendrites at both the biochemical and the morphological level. Further characterization of NT2N cells is underway, and more efficient ways to obtain expression of foreign proteins will no doubt be found.
Cook
D G
DG
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia 19104.
Lee
V M
VM
Doms
R W
RW
D001483:Base Sequence; D002451:Cell Compartmentation; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D016764:Cell Polarity; D046508:Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D015870:Gene Expression; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D018243:Teratocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000494:pharmacology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects; D014616:Vaccinia virus / Q000235:genetics
D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D014212:Tretinoin