Genetically Encoded Sensors

Product List in Creative Biolabs

Genetically Encoded Sensors in Creative Biolabs

Researchers can monitor ions, chemicals, enzyme activity, and channel conformational changes in live cells with exquisite spatial and temporal resolution thanks to fluorescent sensors. Particularly genetically encoded fluorescence sensors have considerable promise for studying biochemical processes in the intricate cellular milieu. Such sensors can be inserted into organisms for long-term imaging, expressed in particular cell types in a transgenic creature, and targeted to precise sites within a cell. Creative Biolabs is a world-class provider of genetically encoded sensors. Furthermore, we now offer encoded sensors-related products, including plasmids, viruses, and stable cell lines. If you don't find the right product, please contact us for customization.

Fig.1 Steps involved in engineering a genetically encoded sensor.¹

Applications of Genetically Encoded Sensors

• Cancer
  Many genetically encoded sensors have been developed and used to examine tumor tissues and cancer cells. It launches the application for pathological process investigation and anti-cancer drug screening. Numerous intrinsic mechanisms, such as alterations in transcription factors or presentation of tumor-related antigens, are associated with the development of tumors. Given that biosensors can be integrated into any metabolic pathway of a cell, genetically encoded fluorescence biosensors are intended to be an acceptable toolset for these molecular techniques.

  Fig.2 Schematic representation of genetically encoded sensor.²

• Neurological Disorders
  Numerous basic characteristics and fundamental mechanisms that result in neuronal dysfunction are shared by various neurological illnesses. These specifications are met by genetically encoded sensors, which may also be used to visualize numerous metabolic and signaling pathways in the cell and explain the causes of both pathological disease processes and the effects of medication on damaged neurons.
• Inflammation
  For both in vitro and in vivo models of intestinal inflammation, numerous genetically encoded sensors have been developed.

Advantages of Genetically Encoded Sensors

Genetically encoded sensors are new tools for biochemical, cytological, and physiological research, notably in the field of biomedicine. They allow for the real-time, high spatio-temporal resolution detection of multiple routes within the live cell both in vitro and in vivo. One major benefit is that sensors may be integrated into a wide range of model systems, from 2D cell cultures to an entire organism. As they reveal the origins of numerous diseases like cancer, neurodegeneration, inflammation, etc., biosensors are now a promising method for medication screening.

Case of Genetically Encoded Sensors

Microbial Rhodopsin FRET Quenching Ace2N-4AA-mNeon is a genetically encoded sensor. Because light scattering obliterates the image of individual cells in a wide-field measurement and two-photon imaging of suitable 2D frames is too slow, measuring spike signals from individual neurons in the in vivo mammalian brain has proven to be difficult. Spike signals from individual neurons were detected from cells in the upper 150 mm of mouse brain using a wide-field measurement and Ace2N-4AA-mNeon in combination with sparse expression.

Fig.3 Neuron spikes measured using Ace2N-4AA-mNeon.³

1. Palmer, Amy E., et al. "Design and application of genetically encoded biosensors." Trends in biotechnology 29.3 (2011): 144-152.
2. Ovechkina, Vera S., et al. "Genetically encoded fluorescent biosensors for biomedical applications." Biomedicines 9.11 (2021): 1528.
3. Storace, Douglas, et al. "Toward better genetically encoded sensors of membrane potential." Trends in neurosciences 39.5 (2016): 277-289.