Source 1review2013Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience
Toolkit/genetically encoded Ca2+ indicators
genetically encoded Ca2+ indicators
Also known as: GECIs, genetically encoded calcium indicators
Taxonomy: Mechanism Branch / Component. Workflows sit above the mechanism and technique branches rather than replacing them.
Summary
Genetically encoded Ca(2+) indicators (GECIs) ... are being developed to selectively read out ... astrocyte activity. Our review discusses emerging perspectives on: (i) the complexity of astrocyte Ca(2+) signaling revealed by GECIs
Usefulness & Problems
Why this is useful
Genetically encoded Ca2+ indicators are introduced into neurons to capture activity relationships among them. In this review they are positioned as recording tools for neural interplay that modulates autonomic endpoints or somatic behavior.; capturing interplay between neurons; monitoring neural activity related to autonomic end-points; studying somatic behavior; GECIs are genetically encoded reporters used to read out astrocyte Ca2+ activity. The review highlights them as tools that reveal the complexity of astrocyte Ca2+ signaling.; selective readout of astrocyte activity; revealing complexity of astrocyte Ca2+ signaling
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Genetically encoded Ca2+ indicators are introduced into neurons to capture activity relationships among them. In this review they are positioned as recording tools for neural interplay that modulates autonomic endpoints or somatic behavior.
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capturing interplay between neurons
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monitoring neural activity related to autonomic end-points
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studying somatic behavior
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GECIs are genetically encoded reporters used to read out astrocyte Ca2+ activity. The review highlights them as tools that reveal the complexity of astrocyte Ca2+ signaling.
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selective readout of astrocyte activity
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revealing complexity of astrocyte Ca2+ signaling
Problem solved
They solve the problem of observing coordinated neural activity associated with autonomic regulation rather than only perturbing the circuit.; enables recording of neural activity relationships underlying autonomic or behavioral outputs; They address the poor cellular specificity of bulk-loaded fluorescent Ca2+ indicators and support selective monitoring of astrocyte activity.; lack of cellular specificity in bulk-loaded fluorescent Ca2+ indicator approaches; difficulty observing signaling in thin astrocyte processes in natural environments
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They solve the problem of observing coordinated neural activity associated with autonomic regulation rather than only perturbing the circuit.
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enables recording of neural activity relationships underlying autonomic or behavioral outputs
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They address the poor cellular specificity of bulk-loaded fluorescent Ca2+ indicators and support selective monitoring of astrocyte activity.
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lack of cellular specificity in bulk-loaded fluorescent Ca2+ indicator approaches
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difficulty observing signaling in thin astrocyte processes in natural environments
Problem links
difficulty observing signaling in thin astrocyte processes in natural environments
LiteratureThey address the poor cellular specificity of bulk-loaded fluorescent Ca2+ indicators and support selective monitoring of astrocyte activity.
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They address the poor cellular specificity of bulk-loaded fluorescent Ca2+ indicators and support selective monitoring of astrocyte activity.
enables recording of neural activity relationships underlying autonomic or behavioral outputs
LiteratureThey solve the problem of observing coordinated neural activity associated with autonomic regulation rather than only perturbing the circuit.
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They solve the problem of observing coordinated neural activity associated with autonomic regulation rather than only perturbing the circuit.
lack of cellular specificity in bulk-loaded fluorescent Ca2+ indicator approaches
LiteratureThey address the poor cellular specificity of bulk-loaded fluorescent Ca2+ indicators and support selective monitoring of astrocyte activity.
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They address the poor cellular specificity of bulk-loaded fluorescent Ca2+ indicators and support selective monitoring of astrocyte activity.
Taxonomy & Function
Primary hierarchy
Mechanism Branch
Component: A low-level RNA part used inside a larger architecture that realizes a mechanism.
Techniques
No technique tags yet.
Target processes
signalingInput: Light
Implementation Constraints
cofactor dependency: cofactor requirement unknownencoding mode: genetically encodedimplementation constraint: context specific validationimplementation constraint: spectral hardware requirementoperating role: sensor
The abstract specifically states that neurons are transfected with genetically encoded Ca2+ indicators.; requires transfection of neurons with genetically encoded Ca2+ indicators; These tools require reporter-gene expression in astrocytes and an imaging setup capable of detecting fluorescent Ca2+ signals. The abstract also implies a need for astrocyte-specific expression strategies.; requires expression of reporter genes in astrocytes; depends on strategies for astrocyte-specific reporter expression
The abstract does not claim that GECIs fully resolve the debate over Ca2+-dependent gliotransmitter release mechanisms. It also does not specify that they alone overcome all spatial-resolution limits.; the abstract does not specify which GECI variants or performance tradeoffs are preferred
Validation
Cell-freeBacteriaMammalianMouseHumanTherapeuticIndep. Replication
Supporting Sources
Source 2review2018Neuroscience Bulletin
Ranked Claims
Activity-dependent ensemble capture/manipulation can permanently label activated neurons responsible for a physiological function and then manipulate them.
DREADD-based chemogenetic manipulation enables chronic neuronal manipulation to simulate physiological aberrations.
Genetically encoded Ca2+ indicators can be used to capture interplay between neurons that modulates autonomic endpoints or somatic behavior.
The reviewed techniques work with millisecond temporal precision.
Classical and new techniques are used to monitor vesicle fusion in cultured astrocytes.
The concept of Ca2+-dependent gliotransmitter release from astrocytes and the underlying release mechanisms are being debated.
GECIs reveal complexity in astrocyte Ca2+ signaling.
Genetically encoded Ca2+ indicators, light-gated channels, and exogenous receptors are being developed to selectively read out and stimulate astrocyte activity.
Approval Evidence
2 sources5 linked approval claimsfirst-pass slug genetically-encoded-ca2-indicators
Neurons can be transfected with genetically-encoded Ca2+ indicators to capture the interplay between them that modulates autonomic end-points or somatic behavior. These techniques work with millisecond temporal precision.
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Genetically encoded Ca(2+) indicators (GECIs) ... are being developed to selectively read out ... astrocyte activity. Our review discusses emerging perspectives on: (i) the complexity of astrocyte Ca(2+) signaling revealed by GECIs
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capability summarysupports
Genetically encoded Ca2+ indicators can be used to capture interplay between neurons that modulates autonomic endpoints or somatic behavior.
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performance summarysupports
The reviewed techniques work with millisecond temporal precision.
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controversymixed
The concept of Ca2+-dependent gliotransmitter release from astrocytes and the underlying release mechanisms are being debated.
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tool capabilitysupports
GECIs reveal complexity in astrocyte Ca2+ signaling.
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tool use casesupports
Genetically encoded Ca2+ indicators, light-gated channels, and exogenous receptors are being developed to selectively read out and stimulate astrocyte activity.
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Comparisons
Source-stated alternatives
The review contrasts calcium indicators with optogenetic perturbation, activity-dependent ensemble capture, and DREADD-based chronic manipulation.; The review contrasts GECIs with conventional bulk-loading fluorescent Ca2+ indicator methods.
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The review contrasts calcium indicators with optogenetic perturbation, activity-dependent ensemble capture, and DREADD-based chronic manipulation.
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The review contrasts GECIs with conventional bulk-loading fluorescent Ca2+ indicator methods.
Source-backed strengths
millisecond temporal precision; genetic targeting enables selective readout in astrocytes; review states they reveal complex astrocyte Ca2+ signaling
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millisecond temporal precision
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genetic targeting enables selective readout in astrocytes
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review states they reveal complex astrocyte Ca2+ signaling
Compared with calcium indicators
The review contrasts calcium indicators with optogenetic perturbation, activity-dependent ensemble capture, and DREADD-based chronic manipulation.
Shared frame: source-stated alternative in extracted literature
Strengths here: millisecond temporal precision; genetic targeting enables selective readout in astrocytes; review states they reveal complex astrocyte Ca2+ signaling.
Relative tradeoffs: the abstract does not specify which GECI variants or performance tradeoffs are preferred.
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The review contrasts calcium indicators with optogenetic perturbation, activity-dependent ensemble capture, and DREADD-based chronic manipulation.
Compared with genetically encoded calcium indicators
The review contrasts GECIs with conventional bulk-loading fluorescent Ca2+ indicator methods.
Shared frame: source-stated alternative in extracted literature
Strengths here: millisecond temporal precision; genetic targeting enables selective readout in astrocytes; review states they reveal complex astrocyte Ca2+ signaling.
Relative tradeoffs: the abstract does not specify which GECI variants or performance tradeoffs are preferred.
Source:
The review contrasts GECIs with conventional bulk-loading fluorescent Ca2+ indicator methods.
Compared with optogenetic
The review contrasts calcium indicators with optogenetic perturbation, activity-dependent ensemble capture, and DREADD-based chronic manipulation.
Shared frame: source-stated alternative in extracted literature
Strengths here: millisecond temporal precision; genetic targeting enables selective readout in astrocytes; review states they reveal complex astrocyte Ca2+ signaling.
Relative tradeoffs: the abstract does not specify which GECI variants or performance tradeoffs are preferred.
Source:
The review contrasts calcium indicators with optogenetic perturbation, activity-dependent ensemble capture, and DREADD-based chronic manipulation.
Ranked Citations
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- 2.