Neuron-microelectrode junction induced by an engineered synapse organizer

The conventional microelectrodes for recording neuronal activities do not have innate selectivity to cell type, which is one of the critical limitations for the detailed analysis of neuronal circuits. In this study, we engineered a downsized variant of the artificial synapse organizer based on neurexin1β and a peptide-tag, fabricated gold microelectrodes functionalized with the receptor for the organizer, and performed validation experiments in primary cultured neurons. Successful inductions of synapse-like junctions were detected at the sites of contact between neurons expressing the engineered synapse organizer and functionalized microelectrodes, but not in the negative control experiment in which the electrode functionalization was omitted. Such a molecularly inducible neuron-microelectrode junction could be the basis for the next-generation electrophysiological technique enabling cell type-selective recording. •A compact synapse organizer was engineered based on a peptide tag and neurexin1β.•Organizer's receptor on gold electrodes retained its function for more than 5 days.•Synapse-like junctions were induced at the neuron-microelectrode contact sites.•This phenomenon could become a basis for cell-type-specific electrophysiology.