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Red fluorescent genetically encoded Ca2+ indicators for use in mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Red fluorescent genetically encoded Ca2+ indicators for use in mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum

Jiahui Wu, David L Prole, Yi Shen, Zhihong Lin, Aswini Gnanasekaran, Yingjie Liu, Lidong Chen, Hang Zhou, S R Wayne Chen, Yuriy M Usachev, …
The Biochemical journal, Vol.464(1), pp.13-22
11/15/2014
DOI: 10.1042/BJ20140931
PMCID: PMC4214425
PMID: 25164254
url
https://doi.org/10.1042/BJ20140931View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Ca2+ is a key intermediary in a variety of signalling pathways and undergoes dynamic changes in its cytoplasmic concentration due to release from stores within the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and influx from the extracellular environment. In addition to regulating cytoplasmic Ca2+ signals, these responses also affect the concentration of Ca2+ within the ER and mitochondria. Single fluorescent protein-based Ca2+ indicators, such as the GCaMP series based on GFP, are powerful tools for imaging changes in the concentration of Ca2+ associated with intracellular signalling pathways. Most GCaMP-type indicators have dissociation constants (Kd) for Ca2+ in the high nanomolar to low micromolar range and are therefore optimal for measuring cytoplasmic [Ca2+], but poorly suited for use in mitochondria and ER where [Ca2+] can reach concentrations of several hundred micromolar. We now report GCaMP-type low-affinity red fluorescent genetically encoded Ca2+ indicators for optical imaging (LAR-GECO), engineered to have Kd values of 24 μM (LAR-GECO1) and 12 μM (LAR-GECO1.2). We demonstrate that these indicators can be used to image mitochondrial and ER Ca2+ dynamics in several cell types. In addition, we perform two-colour imaging of intracellular Ca2+ dynamics in cells expressing both cytoplasmic GCaMP and ER-targeted LAR-GECO1. The development of these low-affinity intensiometric red fluorescent Ca2+ indicators enables monitoring of ER and mitochondrial Ca2+ in combination with GFP-based reporters.
Fluorescent Dyes - chemistry Protein Engineering - methods Protein Structure, Secondary Humans Mice, Inbred C57BL Cells, Cultured Fluorescent Dyes - analysis Calcium - analysis Endoplasmic Reticulum - chemistry Luminescent Proteins - analysis Animals HEK293 Cells Luminescent Proteins - chemistry Luminescent Proteins - genetics Mice HeLa Cells Mitochondria - chemistry

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