10.1002/anie.201812967
Angewandte Chemie International Edition
COMMUNICATION
A chemogenetic approach for optical monitoring of voltage in
neurons
Mayya Sundukova*, Efthymia Prifti, Annalisa Bucci, Kseniia Kirillova, Joana Serrao, Luc Reymond,
Miwa Umebayashi, Ruud Hovius, Howard Riezman, Kai Johnsson, Paul A. Heppenstall*
Abstract: Optical monitoring of neuronal voltage using fluorescent
indicators have been proposed which combine the superior
optical properties of small-molecule fluorophores with genetically
encoded voltage sensors[11]. Examples include a precursor VSD
that is converted to an active membrane-bound dye by a
genetically encoded enzyme[12] , and click chemistry- and
enzyme-mediated ligation of organic fluorophores to rhodopsin to
indicators is a powerful approach for interrogation of the cellular and
molecular logic of the nervous system. Here we describe
a
Semisynthetic Tethered Voltage Indicator (STeVI1) based upon Nile
Red that displays voltage sensitivity when genetically targeted to
neuronal membranes. This environmentally sensitive probe allows for
wash-free imaging and faithfully detects supra- and subthreshold
activity in neurons.
function as FRET donors[13,14]
.
Here we considered an alternative approach for hybrid voltage
sensor design; localization of a synthetic voltage indicator to cells
of interest using genetically encoded protein tags[15]. We focused
on enzyme-based small protein tags such as the self-modifying
enzyme SNAP -tag[16], and transferase-mediated labeling of the
acyl carrier protein (ACP)-tag[17,18], as these technologies allow for
rapid, irreversible labeling, and are compatible with in vivo
imaging[19]. For the VSD component we found that derivatives of
Nile Red, an environment-sensitive (‘fluorogenic’) dye that shows
fluorescence enhancement upon transition from aqueous to
hydrophobic solvent[20,21], register membrane potential with high
fidelity. We named the resulting voltage sensor Semisynthetic
Tethered Voltage Indicator 1 (STeVI1).
We initially investigated the voltage sensitivity of the Nile Red-
derivative NR12S (Fig.1a), a fluorogenic probe which contains a
zwitterionic group and hydrocarbon chain, and has been used to
monitor lipid order[22,23]. NR12S readily labeled the membranes of
HEK293T cells with a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of 10.45±1.3
under wash-free conditions (SI Fig. 1 and SI Fig.4a). To quantify
its voltage sensitivity, we used whole cell voltage clamp to control
membrane potential, and simultaneously recorded the epi-
fluorescence signal from the membranes at an illumination
irradiance of 12 mW/mm2. Upon application of rectangular
depolarizing voltage steps of various magnitudes from a –60 mV
holding potential, fluorescence signal decreased linearly in the
physiological range of membrane potential (R2=0.97, Fig.1b).
Voltage sensitivity expressed as fractional fluorescence change
F/F% (normalized to fluorescence at a holding potential of – 60
mV) achieved – 5.1 ± 0.4 % per 100 mV (n= 10 cells). NR12S
fluorescence responded to applied voltage steps with a mean rise
time on=1.9 ± 0.4 ms and a weighted decay time off=1.9 ± 0.2
ms (the fast component represented >85% of response).
Complementation and substitution of electrophysiology methods
with non-invasive optical imaging of neuronal activity is a major
technological challenge in neuroscience[1]. Calcium imaging with
genetically encoded indicators is widely used to interrogate the
connectivity and function of neural circuits at different spatial and
temporal resolutions[2]. However, as a surrogate for underlying
electrical activity, calcium imaging has a number of shortcomings.
For example, calcium indicators lack the sensitivity to register
subthreshold activity, and their slow kinetics and the nature of the
calcium transient itself often preclude recording of high-frequency
firing. Direct readout of neuronal membrane voltage is therefore
necessary for imaging subthreshold and inhibitory activity, and for
investigating fast-coordinated phenomena[3]. As such, significant
efforts are being invested in developing probes and improving
microscopy for optical monitoring of voltage[4–7]
.
Fluorescent indicators for membrane potential can be divided into
two groups; synthetic voltage sensitive dyes (VSD)[4], and
genetically encoded voltage indicators (GEVI) based upon
voltage sensitive proteins such as opsins, channels and
phosphatases[8]. Organic VSDs possess excellent photophysical
properties and fast kinetics for live imaging. However, their
application in vivo is limited by unspecific staining of tissue,
compromising signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and cell identity[4].
GEVIs provide a valuable alternative as they can be genetically
targeted to subsets of cells[7,9,10]. However, GEVIs often suffer
from low brightness, poor photostability and slow kinetics[5,7]. They
may also localize poorly to the plasma membrane and exhibit
cellular toxicity. To circumvent these problems, hybrid voltage
We further enquired whether NR12S could report action
potentials in dissociated dorsal root ganglion (DRG) sensory
neurons. Imaging at 333 fps allowed for detection of current
injection-triggered action potentials in single trials, with a F /F%
per action potential of – 1.9 ± 0.3% (n=4 neurons) corresponding
to a peak SNR of 9.5 ± 1.6 (Fig. 1c-d). Because of the large
dynamic range of the probe and its fast kinetics, NR12S
fluorescence signals closely followed the action potential shape,
permitting the optical monitoring of sub- and suprathreshold
neuronal events. Moreover, the orange emission of membrane-
bound NR12S (max = 581 ± 1 nm in live cells, SI Fig. 2), favors
this fluorophore over green-emitting VSDs and GEVIs for use in
vivo. Membrane depolarization did not cause a detectable shift in
Dr. Mayya Sundukova*, Annalisa Bucci, Kseniia Kirillova, Joana
Serrao, Dr. Paul A. Heppenstall*
Molecular Medicine Partnership Unit (MMPU), 69117 Heidelberg,
Germany
Epigenetics and Neurobiology Unit, EMBL Rome, via Ramarini 32,
Monterotondo, Italy
Prof. Kai Johnsson
Department of Chemical Biology, Max Planck Institute for Medical
Research, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
Dr. Luc Reymond, Dr. Ruud Hovius Prof. Kai Johnsson
Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne, ISIC, NCCR in Chemical
Biology, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
Dr. Miwa Umebayashi, Prof. Howard Riezman
University of Geneva, Department of Biochemistry, 1211 Geneva,
Switzerland
Supporting information for this article is given via a link at the end of
the document.
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