title: A robust activity marking system for exploring active neuronal ensembles.
abstract: Understanding how the brain captures transient experience and converts it into long lasting changes in neural circuits requires the identification and investigation of the specific ensembles of neurons that are responsible for the encoding of each experience. We have developed a Robust Activity Marking (RAM) system that allows for the identification and interrogation of ensembles of neurons. The RAM system provides unprecedented high sensitivity and selectivity through the use of an optimized synthetic activity-regulated promoter that is strongly induced by neuronal activity and a modified Tet-Off system that achieves improved temporal control. Due to its compact design, RAM can be packaged into a single adeno-associated virus (AAV), providing great versatility and ease of use, including application to mice, rats, flies, and potentially many other species. Cre-dependent RAM, CRAM, allows for the study of active ensembles of a specific cell type and anatomical connectivity, further expanding the RAM system's versatility.
authors.affiliation: McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States.
authors.forename: Andreas T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Sørensen
authors.affiliation: McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States.
authors.forename: Yonatan A
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.affiliation: Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, United States.
authors.forename: Michael V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Baratta
authors.affiliation: McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States.
authors.forename: Feng-Ju
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Weng
authors.affiliation: McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States.
authors.forename: Yuxiang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States.
authors.forename: Kartik
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ramamoorthi
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, United States.|Department of Neurology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, United States.|Neuroscience Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, United States.
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fropf
authors.affiliation: McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States.
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: LaVerriere
authors.affiliation: McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.affiliation: McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Young
authors.affiliation: McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States.
authors.forename: Colleen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.affiliation: McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States.
authors.forename: Casper René
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Gøtzsche
authors.affiliation: Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hemberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, United States.|Department of Neurology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, United States.
authors.forename: Jerry Cp
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, United States.
authors.forename: Steven F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Maier
authors.affiliation: McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States.
authors.forename: Yingxi
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7002-1275
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lin
keywords: D. melanogaster; Npas4; RAM; Tet-Off system; activity mapping; cFos; mouse; neural ensemble; neuroscience; rat