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Measuring calcium signaling using genetically targetable fluorescent indicators

Nature Protocols volume 1, pages 1057–1065 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

Genetically encoded Ca2+ indicators allow researchers to quantitatively measure Ca2+ dynamics in a variety of experimental systems. This protocol summarizes the indicators that are available, and highlights those that are most appropriate for a number of experimental conditions, such as measuring Ca2+ in specific organelles and localizations in mammalian tissue-culture cells. The protocol itself focuses on the use of a cameleon, which is a fluorescence resonance-energy transfer (FRET)-based indicator comprising two fluorescent proteins and two Ca2+-responsive elements (a variant of calmodulin (CaM) and a CaM-binding peptide). This protocol details how to set up and conduct a Ca2+-imaging experiment, accomplish offline data processing (such as background correction) and convert the observed FRET ratio changes to Ca2+ concentrations. Additionally, we highlight some of the challenges in observing organellar Ca2+ and the alternative strategies researchers can employ for effectively calibrating the genetically encoded Ca2+ indicators in these locations. Setting up and conducting an initial calibration of the microscope system is estimated to take ∼1 week, assuming that all the component parts are readily available. Cell culture and transfection is estimated to take ∼3 d (from the time of plating cells on imaging dishes). An experiment and calibration will probably take a few hours. Finally, the offline data workup can take ∼1 d depending on the extent of analysis.

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Figure 1
Figure 2: Representative experiment involving a mitochondrially targeted cameleon (2mtD3cpv).

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank J. Evans for helpful advice on this manuscript. This work was supported by the following grants: Ruth L. Kirschstein NIH postdoctoral fellowship F32 GM067488-01 to A.E.P., NIH NS27177 to R.Y.T. and funds from the University of Colorado to A.E.P.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, 80309-0215, Colorado, USA

    Amy E Palmer

  2. Department of Pharmacology and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, San Diego, 92093-0647, California, USA

    Roger Y Tsien

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Correspondence to Amy E Palmer.

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Palmer, A., Tsien, R. Measuring calcium signaling using genetically targetable fluorescent indicators. Nat Protoc 1, 1057–1065 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/nprot.2006.172

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