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CaMPARI: Red Fluorescent Proteins

Loren Looger explains the science behind red fluorescent proteins. A new tool developed at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Janelia Research Campus lets scientists shine a light on an animal's brain to permanently mark neurons that are active at a particular time. The tool -- a fluorescent protein called CaMPARI -- converts from green to red when calcium floods a nerve cell after the cell fires. The permanent mark frees scientists from the need to focus a microscope on the right cells at the right time to observe neuronal activity. Calcium-sensitive fluorescent molecules called GCaMP emit a fluorescent signal that indicates neural activity, and are useful for following the dynamics of neural networks. But their signal is temporary, and if researchers miss it because the microscope is not focused on the right spot in the brain, the information is lost. With CaMPARI, researchers can visualize neural activity beyond a microscope's limited field of view, capturing a snapshot of neural activity across wide swaths of brain tissue. The new tool also enables scientists to visualize neural activity during more complicated behaviors than previous calcium indicators, because in many cases it can be used while animals move freely, rather than being confined to a dish or embedded in agar. HHMI/Janelia Research Campus News story: http://www.hhmi.org/news/new-fluoresc... Visit the Looger Lab: https://www.janelia.org/lab/looger-lab