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Construction of Cell-based Neurotransmitter Fluorescent Engineered Reporters CNiFERs for Optical Detection of Neurotransmitters In Vivo

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Genetically Encoded Fluorescent Indicators for Imaging Brain Chemistry.

Xiaoke Bi¹, Connor Beck¹, Yiyang Gong¹

¹Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA.

|April 30, 2021

Summary

Genetically encoded fluorescent indicators offer advanced optical imaging for neural activity. These tools track neurotransmitter and calcium dynamics in vivo with improved performance.

Keywords:

genetically encoded calcium indicators genetically encoded fluorescent indicators genetically encoded neurotransmitter indicators neural imaging protein engineering

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Biochemistry
Optical Imaging

Background:

Genetically encoded fluorescent indicators (GEFIs) are crucial for monitoring neural activity.
Advances in protein engineering enhance GEFI dynamic range, kinetics, and spectral properties.
GEFIs enable detection of neurotransmitter and calcium dynamics in vitro and in vivo.

Purpose of the Study:

To review current trends in genetically encoded fluorescent indicators for neurotransmitters and calcium.
To focus on key metrics and in vivo applications of these indicators.

Main Methods:

Review of recent developments in protein engineering and screening strategies for GEFIs.
Analysis of studies utilizing GEFIs for neurotransmitter and calcium sensing.
Focus on optical imaging techniques combined with GEFIs.

Main Results:

Improved GEFIs demonstrate high spatiotemporal resolution for neural activity detection.
GEFIs successfully detect neurotransmitter and calcium dynamics with high signal-to-noise ratio.
Applications span multiple temporal and spatial scales in vitro and in vivo.

Conclusions:

Genetically encoded fluorescent indicators are powerful tools for neuroscience research.
Ongoing advancements continue to improve their utility for in vivo brain chemistry monitoring.
These indicators are essential for understanding neural function at various scales.