Name: a simple neuronal mechanical injury methodology to study drosophila motor neuron degeneration
Uploaded: 2017-07-19T15:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about A Simple Neuronal Mechanical Injury Methodology to Study Drosophila Motor Neuron Degeneration at JoVE.com

We would like to thank all members of the Keller and Magie Labs at Quinnipiac University for helpful suggestions. In particular, we would like to thank Barron L. Lincoln II for development of this injury assay within the Keller Lab. We would also like to thank Quinnipiac University College of Arts and Science Grant-In-Aid awarded to L.C. Keller.

1. Preparation of Reagents and Equipment
<ol>
	<li>Prepare 1x Dissection Buffer (70 mM NaCl, 5 mM KCl, 0.02 mM CaCl2, 20 mM MgCl2, 10 mM NaHCO3, 115 mM sucrose, 5 mM trehalose, 5 mM HEPES;&#160;pH 7.2).</li>
	<li>Prepare 1x Phosphate-Buffered Saline (PBS).</li>
	<li>Prepare 1x PBT using 1x PBS with 0.01% Triton X-100.</li>
	<li>Prepare fruit juice agar plates.14 Briefly, mix 30 g agar in 700 mL of H2O and autoclave. Dissolve 0.5 g of methyl paraben in ...

<ol>
	<li>Bier, E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Drosophilia,+the+golden+bug,+emerges+as+a+tool+for+human+genetics.">Drosophilia, the golden bug, emerges as a tool for human genetics.</a> Nat. Rev. Genet. 6 (1), 9-23 (2005).</li><li>Ugur, B., Chen, K., Bellen, H. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Drosophila+tools+and+assays+for+the+study+of+human+diseases.">Drosophila tools and assays for the study of human diseases.</a> Dis Model Mech. 9 (3), 235-244 (2016).</li><li>McGurk, L., Berson, A., Bonini, N. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Drosophila+as+an+in+vivo+model+for+human+neurodegenerative+disease.">Drosophila as an in vivo model for human neurodegenerative disease.</a> Genetics. 201 (2), 377-402 (2015).</li><li>Shin, J. E., Cho, Y., Beirowski, B., Milbrandt, J., Cavalli, V., DiAntonio, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Dual+leucine+zipper+kinase+is+required+for+retrograde+injury+signaling+and+axonal+regeneration.">Dual leucine zipper kinase is required for retrograde injury signaling and axonal regeneration.</a> Neuron. 74 (6), 1015-1022 (2012).</li><li>Xiong, X., Wang, X., Ewanek, R., Bhat, P., Diantonio, A., Collins, C. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Protein+turnover+of+the+Wallenda/DLK+kinase+regulates+a+retrograde+response+to+axonal+injury.">Protein turnover of the Wallenda/DLK kinase regulates a retrograde response to axonal injury.</a> J Cell Biol. 191 (1), 211-223 (2010).</li><li>Xiong, X., Collins, C. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+conditioning+lesion+protects+axons+from+degeneration+via+the+Wallenda/DLK+MAP+kinase+signaling+cascade.">A conditioning lesion protects axons from degeneration via the Wallenda/DLK MAP kinase signaling cascade.</a> J Neurosci. 32 (2), 610-615 (2012).</li><li>Mishra, B., Ghannad-Rezaie, M., Li, J., Wang, X., Hao, Y., Ye, B., Chronis, N., Collins, C. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Using+microfluidics+chips+for+live+imaging+and+study+of+injury+responses+in+Drosophila+larvae.">Using microfluidics chips for live imaging and study of injury responses in Drosophila larvae.</a> J Vis Exp. (84), e50998 (2014).</li><li>Eaton, B. A., Fetter, R. D., Davis, G. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Dynactic+is+necessary+for+synapse+stabilization.">Dynactic is necessary for synapse stabilization.</a> Neuron. 34 (5), 729-741 (2002).</li><li>Eaton, B. A., Davis, G. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=LIM+Kinase1+controls+synaptic+stability+downstream+of+the+type+II+BMP+receptor.">LIM Kinase1 controls synaptic stability downstream of the type II BMP receptor.</a> Neuron. 47 (5), 695-708 (2005).</li><li>Pielage, J., Fetter, R. D., Davis, G. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Presynaptic+spectrin+is+essential+for+synapse+stabilization.">Presynaptic spectrin is essential for synapse stabilization.</a> Curr Biol. 15 (10), 918-928 (2005).</li><li>Pielage, J., Cheng, L., Fetter, R. D., Carlton, P. M., Sedat, J. W., Davis, G. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+presynaptic+giant+Ankyrin+stabilizes+the+NMJ+through+regulation+or+presynaptic+microtubules+and+transsynaptic+cell+adhesion.">A presynaptic giant Ankyrin stabilizes the NMJ through regulation or presynaptic microtubules and transsynaptic cell adhesion.</a> Neuron. 58 (2), 195-209 (2008).</li><li>Massaro, C. M., Pielage, J., Davis, G. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Molecular+mechanisms+that+enhance+synapse+stability+despite+persistent+disruption+of+the+spectrin/ankryin/microtubule+cytoskeleton.">Molecular mechanisms that enhance synapse stability despite persistent disruption of the spectrin/ankryin/microtubule cytoskeleton.</a> J Cell Biol. 187 (1), 101-117 (2009).</li><li>Lincoln, B. L., Alabsi, S. H., Frendo, N., Freund, R., Keller, L. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Drosophila+neuronal+injury+follows+a+temporal+sequence+of+cellular+events+leading+to+degeneration+at+the+neuromuscular+junction.">Drosophila neuronal injury follows a temporal sequence of cellular events leading to degeneration at the neuromuscular junction.</a> J Exp Neurosci. 9, 1-9 (2015).</li><li>. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Drosophila+apple+juice-agar+plates.">Drosophila apple juice-agar plates.</a> Cold Spring Harb Protoc. , (2011).</li><li>Brent, J. R., Werner, K. M., McCabe, B. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Drosophila+larval+NMJ+immunohistochemistry.">Drosophila larval NMJ immunohistochemistry.</a> J Vis Exp. (25), (2009).</li><li>Smith, R., Taylor, J. P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Dissection+and+imaging+of+active+zones+in+the+Drosophila+neuromuscular+junction.">Dissection and imaging of active zones in the Drosophila neuromuscular junction.</a> J Vis Exp. (50), (2011).</li><li>Jan, L., Jan, Y. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Antibodies+to+horseradish+peroxidase+as+specific+neuronal+markers+in+Drosophila+and+in+grasshopper+embryos.">Antibodies to horseradish peroxidase as specific neuronal markers in Drosophila and in grasshopper embryos.</a> Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 79 (8), 2700-2704 (1982).</li><li>Lahey, T., Gorczyca, M., Jia, X., Budnik, V. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+Drosophila+tumor+suppressor+gene+dlg+is+required+for+normal+synaptic+bouton+structure.">The Drosophila tumor suppressor gene dlg is required for normal synaptic bouton structure.</a> Neuron. 13 (4), 823-835 (1994).</li></ol>

The neuronal mechanical injury described earlier and demonstrated here can be used to induce injury/stress in the segmental nerves of Drosophila larvae.4,5,6,14 This experimental technique has been employed previously to dissect the temporal sequence of events leading to neurodegeneration, as well as to examine transcriptional changes in the motor neuron cell bodies post injury.<sup cl...

Neuronal degeneration occurs during normal development and can be caused by the natural aging process, injury, stress, or disease states. Drosophila melanogaster, the common fruit fly, provides a simple and powerful model organism to study neurodegeneration due to the remarkable similarities in the molecular mechanisms that drive the degeneration of neurons. These similarities are highlighted by the fact that approximately 70% of disease-associated human genes have a Drosophila homolog.1 Additionally, numerous assays and technological tools to study human neurodegenerative diseases have been developed and utilized in Drosophila.2,3 Within Drosophila, the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) allows for analysis of both cellular and electrophysiological properties and has proven to be an important system to study neuromuscular disease due to the visible neuron-muscle connections.2 In this study, we describe an in vivo neuron injury assay in Drosophila larvae which allows for the reproducible injury of segmental nerves. This motoneuron injury results in a temporal sequence of cellular events resulting in neurodegeneration at the NMJ 24 h&#160;post injury. The ability to reproducibly injury motoneurons resulting in neurodegeneration has diverse applications such as identifying specific genes required for the degenerative process, the dissection of transcriptional responses to neuronal injury, and the analysis of protective signaling cascades.4,5,6 This method has also been used in combination with microfluidics to study neuronal degeneration and regeneration in live animals.7
We utilize an established quantitative assay to examine motor neuron degeneration at the Drosophila NMJ after mechanical injury. This assay is based on the fact that loss of presynaptic membrane and proteins precedes the disassembly of the subsynaptic reticulum (SSR) characterized by the postsynaptic muscle membrane folds.8,9,10,11,12,13 This assay allows for the quantification of &#34;synaptic footprints&#34; where the pre-synaptic neuron has lost connection to the adjacent postsynaptic muscle. The degenerative process has been shown to be progressive throughout larval development12 and cannot be accounted for by altered synapse development or sprouting.8,9,10,11,12 The advantage of using mechanical injury over preexisting mutations is that it allows for dissection of the temporal sequence of cellular events leading up to neurodegeneration at the NMJ.13

<table>
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Micro-dissecting scissors</td>
			<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td>15000-08</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dumont #3 Forceps</td>
			<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td>11231-30</td>
			<td>Some people prefer size 3, while others prefer size 5</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dumont #5 Forceps</td>
			<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td>11251-30</td>
			<td>Some people prefer size 3, while others prefer size 5</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>CO2 Air Tank</td>
			<td>Tech Air</td>
			<td>UN 1013</td>
			<td>Various tank sizes can be purchased/</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>CO2 Anesthetizing Apparatus</td>
			<td>Genesee Scientific</td>
			<td>59-114</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Stainless-steel pins, size 0.1</td>
			<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td>26002-10</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>SylGard 184 Silicone Elastomer, Base and Curing Agent</td>
			<td>Dow Corning</td>
			<td>3097358-1004</td>
			<td>To pour dissecting plates</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Bouin&#39;s Solution</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>HT 10132-1L</td>
			<td>Antibodies should be tested for their efficiency in Bouin&#39;s and PFA</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>4% Paraformaldehyde in PBS</td>
			<td>Affymetrix</td>
			<td>FLY-8030-20</td>
			<td>Antibodies should be tested for their efficiency in Bouin&#39;s and PFA</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dissecting Stereo MIcroscope</td>
			<td>AmScope</td>
			<td>SM-1BZ</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Light Source</td>
			<td>AmScope</td>
			<td>HL150-AY-220V</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>anti- nc82 antibody</td>
			<td>Developmental Studies Hybridoma Bank</td>
			<td>nc82-s</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>anti-discs large antibody</td>
			<td>Developmental Studies Hybridoma Bank</td>
			<td>AF3</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Alexa Fluor anti-horseradish peroxidase</td>
			<td>Jackson Immunoresearch</td>
			<td>123-545-021; 123-585-021; 123-605-021</td>
			<td>One can you Alexa Fluor&#174; 488, 594 or 647</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Flystuff Grape Juice Agar Premix</td>
			<td>Genesee Scientific</td>
			<td>47-102</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Microscope slides</td>
			<td>Genesee Scientific</td>
			<td>29-101</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Glass Coverslips</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>12-545-87</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Thermo Scientific Nalgene Utility Box</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>03-484C</td>
			<td>Used to create humid chamber for larval recovery</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

a simple neuronal mechanical injury methodology to study drosophila motor neuron degeneration

The degeneration of neurons occurs during normal development and in response to injury, stress, and disease. The cellular hallmarks of neuronal degeneration are remarkably similar in humans and invertebrates as are the molecular mechanisms that drive these processes. The fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, provides a powerful yet simple genetic model organism to study the cellular complexities of neurodegenerative diseases. In fact, approximately 70% of disease-associated human genes have a Drosophila homolog and a plethora of tools and assays have been described using flies to study human neurodegenerative diseases. More specifically the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) in Drosophila has proven to be an effective system to study neuromuscular diseases because of the ability to analyze the structural connections between the neuron and the muscle. Here, we report on an in vivo motor neuron injury assay in Drosophila, which reproducibly induces neurodegeneration at the NMJ by 24 h. Using this methodology, we have described a temporal sequence of cellular events resulting in motor neuron degeneration. The injury method has diverse applications and has also been utilized to identify specific genes required for neurodegeneration and to dissect transcriptional responses to neuronal injury.

Using the procedure presented here, we have demonstrated that mechanical neuronal injury allows for temporal dissection of neurodegenerative events.14,18 The sequence of events has been previously characterized and begins with an immediate disruption of the cytoskeleton, followed by axonal trafficking defects, an accumulation of ubiquitinated proteins, and subsequent neurodegeneration 24 h post-injury. Prior to injury, WT NMJs sho...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about A Simple Neuronal Mechanical Injury Methodology to Study Drosophila Motor Neuron Degeneration at JoVE.com

A Simple Neuronal Mechanical Injury Methodology to Study Drosophila Motor Neuron Degeneration

Here we describe a simple and widely accessible method to injure segmental nerves in Drosophila larvae to visualize and quantify neurodegeneration of motor neurons at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) of third instar larvae.

A Simple Neuronal Mechanical Injury Methodology to Study Drosophila Motor Neuron Degeneration

The degeneration of neurons occurs during normal development and in response to injury, stress, and disease. The cellular hallmarks of neuronal ...

Research

JoVE Journal

Neuroscience

Laser Capture Microdissection of Drosophila Peripheral Neurons

Laser Capture Microdissection of Drosophila Peripheral Neurons

The dendritic arborization (da) neurons of the Drosophila peripheral nervous system (PNS) provide an excellent model system in which to investigate the ...

Production of RNA for Transcriptomic Analysis from Mouse Spinal Cord Motor Neuron Cell Bodies by Laser Capture Microdissection

Preparation of high-quality RNA from cells of interest is critical to precise and meaningful analysis of transcriptional differences among cell types or ...

Mouse Hindbrain Ex Vivo Culture to Study Facial Branchiomotor Neuron Migration

Mouse Hindbrain Ex Vivo Culture to Study Facial Branchiomotor Neuron Migration

Embryonic neurons are born in the ventricular zone of the brain, but subsequently migrate to new destinations to reach appropriate targets. Deciphering ...

An Ex Vivo Laser-induced Spinal Cord Injury Model to Assess Mechanisms of Axonal Degeneration in Real-time

An Ex Vivo Laser-induced Spinal Cord Injury Model to Assess Mechanisms of Axonal Degeneration in Real-time

Injured CNS axons fail to regenerate and often retract away from the injury site. Axons spared from the initial injury may later undergo secondary axonal ...

The Neuromuscular Junction: Measuring Synapse Size, Fragmentation and Changes in Synaptic Protein Density Using Confocal Fluorescence Microscopy

The neuromuscular junction (NMJ) is the large, cholinergic relay synapse through which mammalian motor neurons control voluntary muscle contraction. ...

A Method to Inflict Closed Head Traumatic Brain Injury in Drosophila

A Method to Inflict Closed Head Traumatic Brain Injury in Drosophila

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) affects millions of people each year, causing impairment of physical, cognitive, and behavioral functions and death. Studies ...

Why Quantification Matters: Characterization of Phenotypes at the Drosophila Larval Neuromuscular Junction

Why Quantification Matters: Characterization of Phenotypes at the Drosophila Larval Neuromuscular Junction

Most studies on morphogenesis rely on qualitative descriptions of how anatomical traits are affected by the disruption of specific genes and genetic ...

A Simple Way to Measure Alterations in Reward-seeking Behavior Using Drosophila melanogaster

A Simple Way to Measure Alterations in Reward-seeking Behavior Using Drosophila melanogaster

We describe a protocol for measuring ethanol self-administration in fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) as a proxy for changes in reward states. We ...

Assay to Measure Nucleocytoplasmic Transport in Real Time within Motor Neuron-like NSC-34 Cells

Nucleocytoplasmic transport refers to the import and export of large molecules from the cell nucleus. Recently, a number of studies have shown a ...

Modeling Neuronal Death and Degeneration in Mouse Primary Cerebellar Granule Neurons

Cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs) are a commonly used neuronal model, forming an abundant homogeneous population in the cerebellum. In light of their ...