Full Text:
Nerve cells in a songbird brain are genetically engineered to glow red, as shown in this confocal microscope image. This is an example of the remarkable insight into cellular structure and dynamics obtained using fluorescent proteins. Red fluorescent proteins are important tools for cellular imaging, and the Jimenez group at JILA is working to improve them to further biophysics research.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has supported research in the Jimenez group's lab to explore how learning affects the structure and function of nerve cells. One approach they developed with NSF support involved the expression of fluorescent proteins in neurons. This allowed them to image neurons and manipulate their activity during learning.Image credit: Malavika Murugan and Richard Mooney
