Electron-multiplying charge-coupled detector-based bioluminescence recording of single-cell Ca2+

J Biomed Opt. 2008 May-Jun;13(3):031211. doi: 10.1117/1.2937236.

Abstract

The construction and application of genetically encoded intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) indicators has a checkered history. Excitement raised over the creation of new probes is often followed by disappointment when it is found that the initial demonstrations of [Ca2+]i sensing capability cannot be leveraged into real scientific advances. Recombinant apo-aequorin cloned from Aequorea victoria was the first Ca2+ sensitive protein genetically targeted to subcellular compartments. In the jellyfish, bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) between Ca2+ bound aequorin and green fluorescent protein (GFP) emits green light. Similarly, Ca2+ sensitive bioluminescent reporters undergoing BRET have been constructed between aequorin and GFP, and more recently with other fluorescent protein variants. These hybrid proteins display red-shifted spectrums and have higher light intensities and stability compared to aequorin alone. We report BRET measurement of single-cell [Ca2+]i based on the use of electron-multiplying charge-coupled-detector (EMCCD) imaging camera technology, mounted on either a bioluminescence or conventional microscope. Our results show for the first time how these new technologies make facile long-term monitoring of [Ca2+]i at the single-cell level, obviating the need for expensive, fragile, and sophisticated equipment based on image-photon-detectors (IPD) that were until now the only technical recourse to dynamic BRET experiments of this type.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aequorin / metabolism*
  • Calcium / metabolism*
  • Calcium Signaling / physiology*
  • Electrons
  • Equipment Design
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Luminescent Measurements / instrumentation*
  • Luminescent Measurements / methods
  • Luminescent Proteins / metabolism*
  • Molecular Probe Techniques / instrumentation*
  • Transducers*

Substances

  • Luminescent Proteins
  • Aequorin
  • Calcium