Emerging in vivo analyses of cell function using fluorescence imaging (*)

Understanding how cells of all types sense external and internal signals and how these signals are processed to yield particular responses is a major goal of biology. Genetically encoded fluorescent proteins (FPs) and fluorescent sensors are playing an important role in achieving this comprehensive knowledge base of cell function. Providing high sensitivity and immense versatility while being minimally perturbing to a biological specimen, the probes can be used in different microscopy techniques to visualize cellular processes on many spatial scales. Three review articles in this volume discuss recent advances in probe design and applications. These developments help expand the range of biochemical processes in living systems suitable for study. They provide researchers with exciting new tools to explore how cellular processes are organized and their activity regulated in vivo.