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bioRxiv · 10.1101/2025.06.25.661405

Mapping the projectional architecture of the mouse midbrain dopaminergic system using cell type-specific barcoding

Kim, H.·Xu, C.·Washington, C.·Lowmann, M.·Kebschull, J. M.
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Abstract

Brain-wide neural circuits are formed by the diverse axonal branching patterns of neurons of different cell types. Here we introduce POINTseq (projections of interest by sequencing), a cell type-specific barcoded connectomics method that uses selective barcoding and sequencing to rapidly map single-cell projections of a cell type of interest for thousands of neurons per animal. POINTseq leverages pseudotyping of Sindbis virus and a specific alphavirus-cellular receptor pair to make Sindbis infections cell type specific. It thus integrates MAPseq-style high-throughput barcoded projection mapping with the established viral-genetic neural circuit analysis toolbox. We validated POINTseq by mapping genetically and projection-defined cell populations in the mouse motor cortex. We then applied POINTseq to midbrain dopaminergic neurons and reconstructed the brain-wide single-cell projections of 5,902 dopaminergic neurons in ventral tegmental area (VTA) and substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc). These neurons cluster into over 25 connectomic cell types, vastly exceeding the known diversity of dopaminergic cells, and form stereotyped projection motifs that may mediate parallel dopamine signaling. This data constitutes the anatomical substrate on which the diverse functions of dopamine in the brain are built. HIGHLIGHTSO_LIWe develop POINTseq, which uses pseudotyped Sindbis virus and cell type-specific expression of a viral receptor for cell type-specific barcoding. C_LIO_LIPOINTseq enables massively multiplexed single-cell projection mapping of cell types of interest. C_LIO_LIWe map the brain-wide projections of 5,902 individual VTA and SNc dopaminergic neurons. C_LIO_LIVTA and SNc dopaminergic neurons form over 25 connectomic cell types. C_LIO_LIProjections are organized into stereotyped motifs that may mediate the distinct functions of dopamine. C_LI

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Kim, H., Xu, C., Washington, C., Lowmann, M., Kebschull, J. M.. 2025-06-26. Mapping the projectional architecture of the mouse midbrain dopaminergic system using cell type-specific barcoding. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.06.25.661405

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