Improved calcium imaging in transgenic mice expressing a troponin C-based biosensor.

Heim, Nicola; Garaschuk, Olga; Friedrich, Michael W; Mank, Marco; Milos, Ruxandra I; Kovalchuk, Yury; Konnerth, Arthur; Griesbeck, Oliver · Nat Methods · 2007

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Fluorescent Ca(2+) indicator proteins (FCIPs) are attractive tools for studying Ca(2+) dynamics in live cells. Here we describe transgenic mouse lines expressing a troponin C (TnC)-based biosensor. The biosensor is widely expressed in neurons and has improved Ca(2+) sensitivity both in vitro and in vivo. This allows FCIP-based two-photon Ca(2+) imaging of distinct neurons and their dendrites in vivo, and opens a new avenue for structure-function analysis of intact neuronal circuits.

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