COMBINATORIAL USE OF MARKERS TO ISOLATE SYNAPTIC GLIA TO GENERATE SYNAPSES IN A DISH FOR HIGH-THROUGHPUT AND HIGH-CONTENT DRUG DISCOVERY AND TESTING

摘要

The invention provides molecular tools to visualize, isolate, and manipulate the glial cells that are necessary for the formation, stability, and function of the synapse. The inventors identified a unique gene expression signature that distinguishes perisynaptic Schwann cells from all other Schwann cells. Using a combinatorial approach and coëxpressing two different fluorescence proteins, each using a different promoter, only those glial cells associated with the neuromuscular synapse are labeled.