Cellular oxidation-reduction reactions are mainly regulated by pyridine
nucleotides (NADPH/NADP+ and NADH/NAD+), thiols and
reactive oxygen species (ROS), and play central roles in cell metabolism,
cellular signaling and cell fate decisions. A comprehensive evaluation or
multiplex analysis of redox landscapes and dynamics in intact living cells is
important for interrogating cell functions in both healthy and diseased states;
however, until recently, this goal has been limited owing to the lack of a
complete set of redox sensors. We recently reported a series of highly
responsive, genetically encoded fluorescent sensors for NADPH, significantly
strengthening the existing toolset of genetically encoded sensors for thiols,
H2O2, and NADH redox states. By combining sensors with
unique spectral properties and specific sub-cellular targeting domains, our
approach allows for simultaneous imaging of up to four different sensors. In
this protocol, we first describe strategies for multiplex fluorescence imaging
of these sensors in single cells, and we demonstrate how to apply these sensors
to study changes in redox landscapes during the cell cycle, following macrophage
activation, and in living zebrafish. This approach can be adapted to different
genetically encoded fluorescent sensors using various analytical platforms, such
as fluorescence microscopy, high-content imaging systems, flow cytometry, and
microplate readers. Typically, the preparation of cells or zebrafish expressing
different sensors is anticipated to take 2–3 d, and microscopy imaging or
flow cytometry analysis can be performed in 5–60 min.