Researchers genetically altered mouse brain cells to produce physical timelines of their key events in the form of a self-assembling chain of fluorescent proteins.
Researchers have coaxed mouse brain cells into producing self-assembling protein chains that can record information, or"memories," about the hidden processes that take place within the cells. Once fully formed, these biological black boxes can be easily read using a light microscope, which could potentially revolutionize how scientists study cellular processes and the diseases that affect them.
By imaging the proteins, RNA or other molecules created during these events inside the cells, scientists have learned how most cellular events work. However, this method provides only a brief snapshot of the event. And, although these snapshots can be stitched together to form a loose picture, scientists likely miss a lot of what is really going on.
"It's not only a snapshot in time, but also records past history," study lead author Changyang Linghu , a cell biologist at University of Michigan, said in a statement."Just like how tree rings can permanently store information over time as the wood grows."During the new experiments, researchers grew cultures of the genetically altered mouse neurons in petri dishes.
In principle, if the same method were applied to neurons from humans, it could allow researchers to see how and when people form new memories, which could be used to help study neurological conditions such as dementia. However, this study is only a proof-of-concept and it will be years, if not decades, before the protein chains can be used in a clinical setting.
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