Bright and photostable chemigenetic indicators for extended in vivo voltage imaging

Genetically encoded voltage indicators (GEVIs) enable monitoring of neuronal activity at high spatial and temporal resolution. However, the utility of existing GEVIs has been limited by the brightness and photostability of fluorescent proteins and rhodopsins. We engineered a GEVI, called Voltron, that uses bright and photostable synthetic dyes instead of protein-based fluorophores, thereby extending the number of neurons imaged simultaneously in vivo by a factor of 10 and enabling imaging for significantly longer durations relative to existing GEVIs. We used Voltron for in vivo voltage imaging in mice, zebrafish, and fruit flies. In the mouse cortex, Voltron allowed single-trial recording of spikes and…

• HH
  Howard Hughes Medical Institute
• SF
  Simons Foundation

  Awards: 325171, 542943SPI
• MO
  Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan

  Awards: MOST106-2628-B-010-004, MOST105-2628-B-010-005, MOST106-2320-B-010-012