Neural network in planarian revealed by an antibody against planarian synaptotagmin homologue.
In order to investigate the neural connection of planarian, it is imperative to produce an antibody that specifically stains axons. To identify axon-specific genes, we constructed a cDNA library from a single eye by using a single cell PCR method, in which visual neurons are major components, and sequenced one thousand independent clones. We succeeded in the identification of a planarian homologue of synaptotagmin, Djsyt, whose specific expression in neurons was confirmed by in situ hybridization. The antibody against DjSYT specifically stained axons although its mRNA is distributed in the cell bodies. By using anti-DjSYT, we succeeded in the visualization of neural connections in planarians by whole mount staining. The anti-DjSYT antibody will become a powerful tool to analyze the molecular mechanisms underlying neural network formation in planarian.
Department of Life Science, Himeji Institute of Technology, Hyogo, 678-1297, Japan.
A
A
Tazaki
S
S
Gaudieri
K
K
Ikeo
T
T
Gojobori
K
K
Watanabe
K
K
Agata
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009415:Nerve Net; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D010802:Phylogeny; D010932:Planarians / Q000235:genetics*; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D050857:Synaptotagmins
D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D050857:Synaptotagmins