NeuroGT: A brain atlas of neurogenic tagging CreER drivers for birthdate-based classification and manipulation of mouse neurons

• Published in: Cell reports methods 2021-07, Vol.1 (3), p.100012-100012, Article 100012
• Main Authors: Hirata, Tatsumi, Tohsato, Yukako, Itoga, Hiroya, Shioi, Go, Kiyonari, Hiroshi, Oka, Sanae, Fujimori, Toshihiko, Onami, Shuichi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: CreER-loxP system; neurogenic tagging; NeuroGT; neuronal birthdate; transgenic mouse
• ISSN: 2667-2375; 2667-2375
• DOI: 10.1016/j.crmeth.2021.100012

Neuronal birthdate is one of the major determinants of neuronal phenotypes. However, most birthdating methods are retrospective in nature, allowing very little experimental access to the classified neuronal subsets. Here, we introduce four neurogenic tagging mouse lines, which can assign CreER-loxP recombination to neuron subsets that share the same differentiation timing in living animals and enable various experimental manipulations of the classified subsets. We constructed a brain atlas of the neurogenic tagging mouse lines (NeuroGT), which includes holistic image data of the loxP-recombined neurons and their processes across the entire brain that were tagged on each single day during the neurodevelopmental period. This image database, which is open to the public, offers investigators the opportunity to find specific neurogenic tagging driver lines and the stages of tagging appropriate for their own research purposes. [Display omitted] •We generate four CreER mouse drivers to tag neurons on the basis of time of neurogenesis•The drivers enable birthdate-based classification and manipulation of neurons•We develop NeuroGT, an image atlas of tagged neurons across the entire brain•Through NeuroGT, researchers can find driver lines suitable for their own research Neuronal birthdates are commonly used to classify neurons. However, the current nucleotide-based birthdating method is retrospective in nature and does not allow the manipulation of classified neurons. To overcome this limitation, we developed neurogenic tagging mouse lines that can induce CreER-loxP recombination in neurons with similar birthdates, and the recombination tag can be subsequently used for experimental manipulation of the classified neuron subsets. To encourage the use of this resource, we launched the NeuroGT database, which contains image data of the tagged neurons across the entire brain. Hirata et al. develop neurogenic tagging CreER driver mice and the NeuroGT database to showcase the mouse lines. The resource can be used to classify neurons on the basis of their generation timing and manipulate the classified neuron subsets for research purposes.