Speaker：Bradley Baker, Ph.D

Time：13:00 - 14:30

Abstract

Genetically-Encoded Voltage Indicators (GEVIs) are becoming useful probes for studying neuronal activities at the cellular and neuronal circuit levels. There now exist several types of GEVIs with different mechanisms for optically reporting changes in membrane potential. I will present the advantages and disadvantages of the differing GEVIs and compare those with calcium indicators. Imaging membrane potential requires fast probes with large voltage responses and good membrane expression. The voltage range of the optical response of a GEVI is also an important characteristic to consider. Our group has been trying to improve these sensors which has resulted in two surprising observations. The first is that it is possible to simultaneously observe the differing buffering characteristics of a neuron during the firing of action potentials. The second is that whole cell patch-clamp can affect the membrane potential of internal membranes like the ER.