title: Dissecting inhibitory brain circuits with genetically-targeted technologies.
abstract: The evolution of genetically targeted tools has begun to allow us to dissect anatomically and functionally heterogeneous interneurons, and to probe circuit function from synapses to behavior. Over the last decade, these tools have been used widely to visualize neurons in a cell type-specific manner, and engage them to activate and inactivate with exquisite precision. In this process, we have expanded our understanding of interneuron diversity, their functional connectivity, and how selective inhibitory circuits contribute to behavior. Here we discuss the relative assets of genetically encoded fluorescent proteins (FPs), viral tracing methods, optogenetics, chemical genetics, and biosensors in the study of inhibitory interneurons and their respective circuits.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Dona K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Murphey
authors.affiliation: Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Alexander M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Herman
authors.affiliation: Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine Houston, TX, USA ; Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine Houston, TX, USA ; Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine Houston, TX, USA ; Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children's Hospital Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Benjamin R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Arenkiel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique / Q000379:methods; D007395:Interneurons / Q000502:physiology*; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000378:metabolism*; D009433:Neural Inhibition / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D062308:Optogenetics; D014161:Transduction, Genetic
chemical_list: D008164:Luminescent Proteins
keywords: channelrhodopsin; chemical genetics; interneuron diversity; interneurons; optogenetics; viral tracing