Trans-synaptic tracing uses rabies virus to spread across synapses. In the scenario in Figure, what would happen if the presynaptic cell also expressed the glycoprotein transgene? Figure
A) The virus spread would not be limited to presynaptic neurons of the starter cells.
B) The virus would not be limited to how many neurons it could infect.
C) The virus would not be able to infect other synaptic partners and would stay in the neuron presynaptic to the starter neuron.
D) The virus would not be able to spread to any synaptic partners and would stay in the starter cell.

Question

Trans-synaptic tracing uses rabies virus to spread across synapses. In the scenario in Figure, what would happen if the presynaptic cell also expressed the glycoprotein transgene?  Figure 
A) The virus spread would not be limited to presynaptic neurons of the starter cells. 
B) The virus would not be limited to how many neurons it could infect. 
C) The virus would not be able to infect other synaptic partners and would stay in the neuron presynaptic to the starter neuron. 
D) The virus would not be able to spread to any synaptic partners and would stay in the starter cell.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

If the presynaptic cell contains the rabies glycoprotein gene then the mutant rabies virus will infect the presynaptic cell which will complement the deficiency producing ΔG-GFP that can spread to the cell presynaptic to the presynaptic cell. This would allow the virus to spread through one more synapse.

Trans-Synaptic Tracing Uses Rabies Virus to Spread Across Synapses