Lighting up the brain: genetically encoded fluorescent sensors for imaging neurotransmitters and neuromodulators
Open accessAbstract
Measuring the precise dynamics of specific neurotransmitters and neuromodulators in the brain is essential for understanding how information is transmitted and processed. Thanks to the development and optimization of various genetically encoded sensors, we are approaching the stage in which a few key neurotransmitters/neuromodulators can be imaged with high cell specificity and good signal-to-noise ratio. Here, we summarize recent progress regarding these sensors, focusing on their design principles, properties, potential applications, and current limitations. We also highlight the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) scaffold as a promising platform that may enable the scalable development of the next generation of sensors, enabling the rapid, sensitive, and specific detection of a large repertoire of neurotransmitters/neuromodulators in vivo at cellular or even subcellular resolution.
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Catecholamine secretion can be monitored in a real-time manner using specific probes.
“Catecholamine secretion can be monitored in a real-time manner using specific probes (Muller et al., 2014; Wang et al., 2018).”
From Intestinal microbiota modulates adrenomedullary response through Nod1 sensing in chromaffin cells (2021) · cites this paper as Wang et al., 2018
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- Authors
- Wang, H., Jing, M., & Li, Y.
- Affiliations
- Peking University (CN)
- Corresponding author
- Li, Yulong
- Venue
- Current Opinion in Neurobiology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2018-06
- Volume
- 50
- Pages
- 171-178
- ISSN
- 0959-4388 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC5984720
- OpenAlex
- W2795503549
- Cited by
- 109
- References
- 42
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 17 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 15 · 2019: 15 · 2018: 4
- FWCI
- 1.48
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Current Opinion in Neurobiology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Basic Research Program of China (2015CB856402)
- General Program of National Natural Science Foundation of China (31671118, 31371442)
- Junior Thousand Talents Program of China
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Biophysics › Advanced Fluorescence Microscopy Techniques
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- Physical Sciences › Chemistry › Spectroscopy › Molecular Sensors and Ion Detection
- Keywords
- genetically encoded fluorescent sensors, neurotransmitter imaging, G protein-coupled receptors, in vivo brain imaging, subcellular resolution, signal transduction
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Brain, Humans, Luminescent Proteins, Biosensing Techniques, Neurotransmitter Agents, Neuroimaging
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