Advances and techniques to measure cGMP in intact cardiomyocytes

Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based biosensors are powerful tools for real-time monitoring of signaling events in intact cells using fluorescence microscopy. Here, we describe a highly sensitive method which allows FRET-based measurements of the second messenger cGMP in adult mouse ventricular myocytes. Such measurements have been challenging before, primarily due to relatively low cGMP concentrations in cardiomyocytes and limited sensitivity of the available biosensors. With our new technique, one can reliably measure dynamic changes in cGMP upon stimulation of myocytes with natriuretic peptides and other physiological and pharmacological ligands.