The Giant Axon of the Squid: A Simple System for Axonal Transport Studies

Authors

Joseph A. DeGiorgis, Biology Department, Providence College, Providence, RI, USA,Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA, USA,, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.
Marcus Jang, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
Elaine L. Bearer, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA, USA. ebearer@salud.unm.edu, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA. ebearer@salud.unm.edu,6 Department of Pathology, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA. ebearer@salud.unm.edu, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA. ebearer@salud.unm.edu

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2022

Abstract

The squid giant axon has a long history of being a superb experimental system in which to investigate a wide range of questions concerning intracellular transport. In this protocol we describe the method used for dissecting the axon to preserve its viability in vitro, and the technique for injecting exogenous materials into the living axon. Now that the squid genome is emerging, and the CRISPR/cas9 system has been successfully applied to knock-out squid genes, the giant axon will resume its place in the scientific pantheon of powerful experimental systems in which to address biological questions pertaining to all eukaryotes.

Recommended Citation

DeGiorgis JA, Jang M, Bearer EL. The Giant Axon of the Squid: A Simple System for Axonal Transport Studies. Methods Mol Biol. 2022;2431:3-22. doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1990-2_1. PMID: 35412269.