Flexible, AAV-equipped Genetic Modules for Inducible Control of Gene Expression in Mammalian Brain

Abstract

Controlling gene expression in mammalian brain is of utmost importance to causally link the role of gene function to cell circuit dynamics under normal conditions and disease states. We have developed recombinant adeno-associated viruses equipped with tetracycline-controlled genetic switches for inducible and reversible control of gene expression in a cell type specific and brain subregion selective manner. Here, we characterize a two-virus approach to efficiently and reliably switch gene expression on and off, repetitively, both in vitro and in vivo. Our recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV)-Tet approach is highly flexible and it has great potential for application in basic and biomedical neuroscience research and gene therapy.