rAAV-cFos

Recombinant adeno-associated viruses (rAAVs) with the cFos promoter are engineered to drive activity-dependent transgene expression. The cFos promoter is derived from the immediate early gene cFos, which is rapidly and transiently upregulated in response to neuronal activity, particularly in response to synaptic input and other stimuli.

Features of rAAV-cFos

• Activity Dependence:
  • The cFos promoter enables transgene expression in neurons activated by specific stimuli, providing temporal and functional specificity.
• High Sensitivity:
  • Robustly responds to physiological and pathological stimuli, including sensory input, stress, learning tasks, or pharmacological interventions.
• Transient Activation:
  • Expression controlled by the cFos promoter is often transient, matching the natural dynamics of cFos gene expression.

Applications of rAAV-cFos

• Neuroscience Research:
  • Activity Mapping: Identifying neurons and brain regions activated during specific tasks or behaviors.
  • Circuit Manipulation: Driving expression of optogenetic or chemogenetic tools (e.g., channelrhodopsins, DREADDs) in stimulus-responsive neurons.
  • Calcium Imaging: Expression of calcium indicators (e.g., GCaMP) for monitoring activity in behaviorally relevant neural populations.
• Behavioral Studies:
  • Linking neuronal activity to specific behaviors, such as fear conditioning, learning, or decision-making.
• Disease Modeling:
  • Investigating how neural circuits respond to pathological conditions, such as epilepsy, neurodegeneration, or psychiatric disorders.
• Gene Therapy:
  • Developing targeted therapies for diseases where specific neuron populations are hyperactive or hypoactive by delivering therapeutic genes in an activity-dependent manner.

rAAV-cFos is a cutting-edge tool for investigating activity-dependent gene expression, mapping functional neural circuits, and developing targeted therapeutic strategies. Its utility lies in its ability to couple neural activity with transgene delivery, enabling precise studies of dynamic brain functions.