Vincent Pieribone, Cellular Neurophysiology, John B. Pierce Laboratory, Yale University

Host: Chris Xu

Genetically Encoded Indicators of Membrane Potential

Modern experimental biology has been transformed by optical methods utilizing proteins which autocatalytically produce visible light fluorescent chromophores.  Green fluorescent protein has spawned a wide variety of experimental approaches allowing the study of intact organisms.  Our laboratory has focused on the development of synthetic proteins that combine voltage-sensing transmembrane domains with fluorescent proteins to produce constructs that change fluorescence output with membrane potential.  These genetically encoded voltage indicators (GEVIs) are useful in allowing remote, optical detection of electrical activity in cells, especially neurons.  I will present the state of the art indicators we are developing, our efforts to study fluorescent proteins in their natural environment and discuss the methods we have developed to screen and validate a novel indicator’s performance characteristics.

poster