Abstract
Protein interactions underlie the complexity of neuronal function. Potential interactions between specific proteins in the brain are predicted from assays based on genetic interaction and/or biochemistry. Genetic interaction reveals endogenous, but not necessarily direct, interactions between the proteins. Biochemistry-based assays, on the other hand, demonstrate direct interactions between proteins, but often outside their native environment or without a subcellular context. We aimed to achieve the best of both approaches by visualizing protein interaction directly within the brain of a live animal. Here, we show a proof-of-principle experiment in which the Cdc42 GTPase associates with its alleged partner WASp within neurons during the time and space that coincide with the newly developing CNS.
Publication types
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Research Support, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Animals, Genetically Modified
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Central Nervous System / embryology*
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Central Nervous System / metabolism*
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Drosophila Proteins / metabolism
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Drosophila melanogaster / embryology
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Drosophila melanogaster / genetics
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Embryo, Nonmammalian
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Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer / methods
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Molecular Dynamics Simulation*
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Molecular Imaging / instrumentation
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Molecular Imaging / methods*
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Neurons / metabolism
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Protein Binding
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Protein Interaction Maps
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Signal Transduction / physiology
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Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein / metabolism
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cdc42 GTP-Binding Protein / genetics
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cdc42 GTP-Binding Protein / metabolism*
Substances
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Drosophila Proteins
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WASp protein, Drosophila
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Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein
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cdc42 GTP-Binding Protein