mito-GCAMP Plasmid

At a Glance

Researchers at Colorado State University developed the mito-GCAMP reagent, which enables the measurement of calcium uptake in mitochondria of a single pair of neurons in live intact C. elegans animals.

Overview

Measuring this intake of an intact animal and nervous system allows research to ask what conditions like aging, inflammation neurodegeneration affects calcium intake in mitochondria, and how this changing factor impacts energy production and neuronal health.

Figure 1: Rapid acquisition of GCaMP6f fluorescence with subcellular resolution in AVA neurite and spine-like structures. (A) Representative images of GCaMP6f fluorescence at the AVAL and AVAR neurite bifurcation. Scale bar = 5 μm. (B) Quantification of GCaMP6f fluorescence normalized to the minimum fluorescence (F) for that region (Fmin) for the proximal (orange) and distal (blue) regions defined in the bottom image in panel A. (C) Representative images of GCaMP6f fluorescence at a spine-like projection in the AVA neurite. (D) Normalized GCaMP6f fluorescence in the neurite (orange) and the spine-like projection (blue) from the corresponding regions in the bottom image of panel C

mito-GCamp plasmids are used to measure the concentration of calcium ions and intake of calcium in vivo. Read more about and/or license mito-GCAMP via Addgene.

Benefits

Together with the genetic manipulations and longitudinal observations possible in C. elegans, this imaging protocol is useful for answering questions regarding how Ca2+ ion handling regulates neuronal function and plasticity.

Applications

Expression of GCAMP6f inside mitochondria of a specific pair of neurons in the genetic model C. elegans.

Publications

Doser, R., Knight, K. M., Deihl, E., Hoerndli, F. Subcellular Imaging of Neuronal Calcium Handling In Vivo. J. Vis. Exp. (193), e64928, doi:10.3791/64928 (2023).

Last Updated: June 2023

Opportunity

Available for Purchase at Addgene

Inventors

Frederic Hoerndli

Reference Number

2023-059

Licensing Manager

Steve Foster
Steve.Foster@colostate.edu
970-491-7100