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Voltage-Sensitive Dyes In Living Cells

Technology Benefits

high sensitivity and improved contrast selective, fluorogenic activation in specific genetically defined cells

Technology Application

multicolor imaging with GFP, Ca2+ indicators like GCaMP voltage sensors based on cpGFP such as ASAP1, as well as optogenetic tools like ChR2 neuronal sub-types (i.e., excitatory vs. inhibitory) can be selectively targeted for functional imaging

Detailed Technology Description

None

Others

Publication

A Rationally Designed, General Strategy for Membrane Orientation of Photoinduced Electron Transfer-Based Voltage-Sensitive Dyes 

Additional Technologies by these Inventors

• Voltage-Sensitive Fluorescent (VF) Dyes For Neuronal Imaging
• Long Wavelength Voltage Sensitive Dyes
• PHOTO-INDUCED ELECTRON TRANSFER VOLTAGE SENSITIVE DYES
• Xanthene-Based Dyes For Voltage Imaging

Tech ID/UC Case

27115/2017-044-0

Related Cases

2017-044-0

*Abstract

Comprehensively mapping and recording the electrical inputs and outputs of multiple neurons simultaneously with cellular spatial resolution and millisecond time resolution remains an outstanding challenge in the field of neurobiology. Traditionally, electrophysiology is used to directly measure membrane potential changes. While this technique yields sensitive results, it is invasive and only permits single-cell recording.  VoltageFluor dyes rely on photoinduced electron transfer to effectively report membrane potential changes in cells. This approach allows for fast, sensitive and non-invasive recording of neuronal activity in cultured mammalian neurons and in ex-vivo tissue slices. However, one major limitation of small-molecule dye imaging is the inability to target the dye to specific cells of interest.

 

UC Berkeley researchers have developed latent voltage sensitive dyes that require a fluorogenic activation step. This new class of VoltageFluor dyes are only weakly fluorescent until being activated in defined cell types via biological processes. In particular, the VoltageFluor dyes described herein comprise a bioreversible group that quenches the fluorescence of the VoltageFluor dye, that upon selective removal by the action of biological processes (e.g., enzymes) thereby activates the fluorescence of the VoltageFluor dye. The researchers found that the new dye facilitated the observation of spontaneous activity in rat hippocampal neurons.

 

*Principal Investigator

Name: Vincent Grenier

Department:

Name: Pei Liu

Department:

Name: Evan Miller

Department:

Country/Region

USA