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Development of intensiometric indicators for visualizing N-cadherin interaction across cells
Takashi Kanadome1,2, Kanehiro Hayashi3, Yusuke Seto4
1Precursory Research for Embryonic Science and Technology (PRESTO), Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), Kawaguchi, Saitama, 332-0012, Japan.
Communications Biology
|October 7, 2022
Summary
New INCIDERs visualize N-cadherin (NCad) interactions in living cells with high contrast. These tools enable detailed study of NCad
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Neuroscience
- Biophysics
Background:
- N-cadherin (NCad) mediates crucial Ca2+-dependent cell-cell interactions.
- Visualizing NCad dynamics in living cells is essential but challenging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop novel indicators for visualizing N-cadherin interactions in real-time.
- To overcome limitations of existing visualization techniques like FRET.
Main Methods:
- Development of intensiometric NCad interaction indicators (INCIDERs) using dimerization-dependent fluorescent proteins.
- Application of INCIDERs in primary neuronal cells and dense cell populations.
- Utilizing two-photon microscopy for high-resolution imaging.
Main Results:
- INCIDERs enable visualization of reversible NCad interactions across cells.
- INCIDERs exhibit ~70-fold higher signal contrast than FRET-based indicators.
- NCad interactions were observed between neuronal processes and at cell adhesion sites.
Conclusions:
- INCIDERs are powerful tools for spatiotemporal investigation of NCad interactions.
- These indicators offer superior contrast for clear identification of NCad dynamics.
- Future applications may include mapping complex multicellular architectures.
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