Measuring spatiotemporal dynamics of cyclic AMP signaling in real-time using FRET-based biosensors

Methods Mol Biol. 2011:746:297-316. doi: 10.1007/978-1-61779-126-0_16.

Abstract

Cyclic AMP governs many fundamental signaling events in eukaryotic cells. Although cAMP signaling has been a major research focus for a long time, recent technological developments are revealing novel aspects of this paradigmatic pathway. In this chapter, we give an overview over current fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based sensors for detection of cAMP dynamics, and their application in monitoring local, compartmentalized cAMP signals within living cells. A basic step-by-step protocol is given for conducting a FRET experiment in primary cells with a unimolecular cAMP sensor, which can easily be adapted to a user's specific requirements.

MeSH terms

  • Biosensing Techniques*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cyclic AMP / metabolism*
  • Electronic Data Processing
  • Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer*
  • Intracellular Space / metabolism
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction*

Substances

  • Cyclic AMP