Open AccessImaging of the Axon Initial Segment
Author(s) -
Di Re Jessica,
Kayasandik Cihan,
BotelloLins Gonzalo,
Labate Demetrio,
Laezza Fernanda
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
current protocols in neuroscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.307
H-Index - 40
eISSN - 1934-8576
pISSN - 1934-8584
DOI - 10.1002/cpns.78
Subject(s) - soma , axon , axon hillock , neuroscience , immunolabeling , scaffold protein , neuron , ion channel , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , biophysics , chemistry , biochemistry , signal transduction , receptor , immunohistochemistry , immunology
Abstract The axon initial segment (AIS) is the first 20‐ to 60‐μm segment of the axon proximal to the soma of a neuron. This highly specialized subcellular domain is the initiation site of the action potential and contains a high concentration of voltage‐gated ion channels held in place by a complex nexus of scaffolding and regulatory proteins that ensure proper electrical activity of the neuron. Studies have shown that dysfunction of many AIS channels and scaffolding proteins occurs in a variety of neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases, raising the need to develop accurate methods for visualization and quantification of the AIS and its protein content in models of normal and disease conditions. In this article, we describe methods for immunolabeling AIS proteins in cultured neurons and brain slices as well as methods for quantifying protein expression and pattern distribution using fluorescent labeling of these proteins. © 2019 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.