Imaging the electrical activity of organelles in living cells

Eukaryotic cells are complex systems compartmentalized in membrane-bound organelles. Visualization of organellar electrical activity in living cells requires both a suitable reporter and non-invasive imaging at high spatiotemporal resolution. Here we present hVoS(org), an optical method to monitor changes in the membrane potential of subcellular membranes. This method takes advantage of a FRET pair consisting of a membrane-bound voltage-insensitive fluorescent donor and a non-fluorescent voltage-dependent acceptor that rapidly moves across the membrane in response to changes in polarity. Compared to the currently available techniques, hVoS(org) has advantages including simple and precise subcellular targeting, the ability to record from individual organelles, and the potential for optical multiplexing of organellar activity. Matamala et al. adapt a hybrid-FRET voltage sensor to enable the recording of resting membrane potential of different organelle compartments in living cells. Their approach allows simple and precise subcellular targeting, the ability to record from individual organelles, and the potential for optical multiplexing of organellar activity.

Automated summary

Researchers present a new optical method hVoS(org) for monitoring changes in subcellular membrane potential with advantages such as precise subcellular targeting, recording from individual organelles, and potential optical multiplexing of organellar activity.