Genetically Targeted Optical Electrophysiology in Intact Neural Circuits

• ArcLight is a recently developed genetically encoded fluorescent voltage indicator
• ArcLight imaging enables optical electrophysiology in Drosophila clock neurons
• ArcLight imaging enables optical electrophysiology in Drosophila olfactory system
• ArcLight enables optical electrophysiology of neuron cell bodies and neurites

SummaryNervous systems process information by integrating the electrical activity of neurons in complex networks. This motivates the long-standing interest in using optical methods to simultaneously monitor the membrane potential of multiple genetically targeted neurons via expression of genetically encoded fluorescent voltage indicators (GEVIs) in intact neural circuits. No currently available GEVIs have demonstrated robust signals in intact brain tissue that enable reliable recording of individual electrical events simultaneously in multiple neurons. Here, we show that the recently developed “ArcLight” GEVI robustly reports both subthreshold events and action potentials in genetically targeted neurons in the intact Drosophila fruit fly brain and reveals electrical signals in neurite branches. In the same way that genetically encoded fluorescent sensors have revolutionized the study of intracellular Ca2+ signals, ArcLight now enables optical measurement in intact neural circuits of membrane potential, the key cellular parameter that underlies neuronal information processing.

Graphical AbstractFigure optionsDownload high-quality image (282 K)Download as PowerPoint slide