Accumulating evidences suggest that zinc ions (Zn2+), an essential transition metal found in all human cells, plays pivotal roles in protein homeostasis, cell signaling and neurotransmission. As such, methods that allow the noninvasive detection and imaging of Zn2+, as suggested by the availability and popularity of tools for Ca2+, are of paramount value. Yet, despite decades of dedicated work, genetically encoded Zn2+ indicators (GEZIs) were limited to a monotonous type based on Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET), which typically comes with moderate dynamic ranges and wide bandwidth occupation, making them suboptimal for multicolor imaging and incompatible with most current probes for other species. To fill this gap, we systematically engineered, screened and characterized new GEZIs based on single green or red fluorescent proteins. Distinguished by their single hues and large dynamic ranges, these GEZIs, along with currently available GECIs (for Ca2+) and GEVIs (for voltage), promise to afford emerging possibilities in biological particularly, neurological research.

Single fluorescent protein-based indicators for zinc ion (Zn2+)

251st National Meeting (2016)

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