Red fluorescent genetically encoded Ca(2+) indicators for use in mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum

Ca(2+) is a key intermediary in a variety of signalling pathways and undergoes dynamic changes in its cytoplasmic concentration due to release from stores within the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and influx from the extracellular environment. In addition to regulating cytoplasmic Ca(2+) signals, these responses also affect the concentration of Ca(2+) within the ER and mitochondria. Single fluorescent protein-based Ca(2+) indicators, such as the GCaMP series based on GFP, are powerful tools for imaging changes in the concentration of Ca(2+) associated with intracellular signalling pathways. Most GCaMP-type indicators have dissociation constants (K(d)) for Ca(2+) in the high nanomolar to low micromolar range and are therefore optimal for measuring cytoplasmic [Ca(2+)], but poorly suited for use in mitochondria and ER where [Ca(2+)] can reach concentrations of several hundred micromolar. We now report GCaMP-type low-affinity red fluorescent genetically encoded Ca(2+) indicators for optical imaging (LAR-GECO), engineered to have K(d) values of 24 μM (LAR-GECO1) and 12 μM (LAR-GECO1.2). We demonstrate that these indicators can be used to image mitochondrial and ER Ca(2+) dynamics in several cell types. In addition, we perform two-colour imaging of intracellular Ca(2+) dynamics in cells expressing both cytoplasmic GCaMP and ER-targeted LAR-GECO1. The development of these low-affinity intensiometric red fluorescent Ca(2+) indicators enables monitoring of ER and mitochondrial Ca(2+) in combination with GFP-based reporters.