Abstract
Neurotransmission between neurons, which can occur over the span of a few milliseconds, relies on the controlled release of small molecule neurotransmitters, many of which are amino acids. Fluorescence imaging provides the necessary speed to follow these events and has emerged as a powerful technique for investigating neurotransmission. In this review, we highlight some of the roles of the 20 canonical amino acids, GABA and β-alanine in neurotransmission. We also discuss available fluorescence-based probes for amino acids that have been shown to be compatible for live cell imaging, namely those based on synthetic dyes, nanostructures (quantum dots and nanotubes), and genetically encoded components. We aim to provide tool developers with information that may guide future engineering efforts and tool users with information regarding existing indicators to facilitate studies of amino acid dynamics.
Highlights
Neurons communicate to each other by the release of chemicals stored in synaptic vesicles across specialized gaps known as synapses
Since Curtis and colleagues first reported its excitatory effects in the late 1950s, l-glutamate has been established as the main excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system (CNS), with glutamatergic synapses accounting for 80 to 90% percent of the brain’s synapses and at least 60% of all the synapses in the CNS [4,5,6,7,8]
But interconnected, roles for proper neurotransmission (Table 1). Beyond their role in protein synthesis, many of the proteinogenic amino acids possess neuromodulatory effects while others act as essential precursors to neurotransmitters without which deficiencies in neurotransmission will result
Summary
Neurons communicate to each other by the release of chemicals stored in synaptic vesicles across specialized gaps known as synapses. Fluorescent probes ( interchangeably referred to as sensors, biosensors, reporters or indicators) will be bright, fast, specific to their target and show large intensity changes its compounds, detection. They should be stable, non-toxic and be as deliveredblocks to their. Fluorescent probes ( interchangeably referred to as sensors, biosensors, reporters or indicators) will be bright, fast, specific to their target and show large intensity changes upon its detection They should be stable, non-toxic and be delivered to their target location with minimal off-target labelling. Due to the complexity and interconnectedness of neurotransmission and space limitations, this review is not meant to be exhaustive, and many relevant papers are not included
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