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Updated: Sep 12, 2025
Imaging Membrane Potential with Two Types of Genetically Encoded Fluorescent Voltage Sensors
Published on: February 4, 2016
Positive-going hybrid indicators for voltage imaging in excitable cells and tissues
Shuzhang Liu1, Jing Ling2, Beichen Xie2,3
1College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Synthetic, and Functional Biomolecules Center, Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of the Ministry of Education, PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Advanced Center of RNA Biology (BEACON), Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
Researchers developed a novel positive-going hybrid voltage indicator (HVI+) for clearer imaging of cell electrical activity. This new tool reduces background noise, improving visualization of action potentials in neurons and cardiomyocytes.
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Cellular Electrophysiology
- Fluorescence Imaging
Background:
- Membrane potential dynamics are vital for excitable cells like neurons and cardiomyocytes.
- Existing fluorescence voltage indicators often have negative responses, causing high background signals.
- Reducing background interference is key for accurate voltage imaging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel positive-going hybrid voltage indicator (HVI+) for improved voltage imaging.
- To overcome the limitations of high background signals in conventional indicators.
- To enable sensitive and accurate visualization of cellular electrical activity.
Main Methods:
- Development of a positive-going hybrid voltage indicator (HVI+).
- Characterization of HVI+-Cy3b voltage sensitivity.
- Simultaneous imaging of pancreatic islet cell activity using HVI+-Cy3b and HVI-Cy3b.
Main Results:
- HVI+-Cy3b exhibits lower intensity at resting state and brighter signal upon depolarization.
- Achieved a voltage sensitivity of 55% ΔF/F0 per 100 mV.
- Successfully reported action potential waveforms in cardiomyocytes and neurons.
- Demonstrated simultaneous assessment of glucose effects on pancreatic islet cell spike activities.
Conclusions:
- HVI+ provides a significant advancement in fluorescence voltage imaging by reducing background noise.
- The high sensitivity and positive-going response of HVI+-Cy3b enable accurate electrophysiological recordings.
- This technology facilitates simultaneous multi-cell type analysis in complex biological systems.
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