Perspectives for using genetically encoded fluorescent biosensors in plants

Abstract

Genetically encoded fluorescent biosensors have long proven to be excellent tools for quantitative live imaging, but sensor applications in plants have been lacking behind those in mammalian systems with respect to the variety of sensors and tissue types used. How can this be improved, and what can be expected for the use of genetically encoded fluorescent biosensors in plants in the future? In this review, we present a table of successful physiological experiments in plant tissue using fluorescent biosensors, and draw some conclusions about the specific challenges plant cell biologists are faced with and some of the ways they have been overcome so far.

Enzyme-Based Fluorescent Biosensors and Their Environmental, Clinical and Industrial Applications

“…The application of fluorescence biosensors in environmental protection applications [20][21][22][23][24][25], medical diagnostics [26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35], and industries [36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45] also is growing.…”

Functional Imaging in living Plants - Cell Biology meets Physiology

“…Plant-adjusted sensor design, such as the usage of new fluorescent protein variants, and imaging techniques, like fluorescent lifetime imaging (FLIM), are recognized as technical opportunities to advance in vivo sensing in plants. Biological promise comes from bespoke sensing approaches in which the sensor is matched current questions of plant metabolism, physiology and signaling, such as sugar homeostasis, hormone regulation and pH dynamics of acidic compartments.The development and properties of pH probes as one group of the genetically encoded sensors discussed by Gjetting et al (2013) is given detailed attention and set in biological context by Martinière et al (2013). Imaging of intracellular pH dates back to the early efforts to exploit fluorescent proteins as sensors for in vivo physiology.…”

“…A perspective on the use of genetically encoded fluorescent biosensors (including FRET-based probes) in plants is given by Gjetting et al (2013). The authors discuss the development of a rapidly growing repertoire of genetically encoded fluorescent sensors and how these developments have been a key driver for functional imaging over the last two decades as well as how new sensors have been adopted by plant biology and future opportunities.…”

“…The development and properties of pH probes as one group of the genetically encoded sensors discussed by Gjetting et al (2013) is given detailed attention and set in biological context by Martinière et al (2013). Imaging of intracellular pH dates back to the early efforts to exploit fluorescent proteins as sensors for in vivo physiology.…”

“…Instead of applying fluorescent dyes or introducing recombinant sensor proteins, the same autofluorescence by endogenous plant compounds highlighted as a burden for quantitative imaging by Gjetting et al (2013) may be actively exploited to provide valuable physiological insight. New spectroscopic techniques for label-free imaging to investigate plant physiology are presented by Peter et al (2014) and Conejero et al (2014).…”