Fluorescent sensors for real-time monitoring of the intracellular processes

We use gene engineering in human stem cells to give us a chance to observe processes happening in the cells in real time or ‘recorded’ in fluorescence, in different situations and systems (including brain organoids). Using precise gene editing techniques we can reliably observe a multitude of processes in all types of cells (including neurons, of course…), often in experiments that can keep going for a very long time, and reveal a lot about the fate and behaviour of each cell we want to follow.

Our ability to precisely engineer human stem cells to introduce transgenes in configurations ensuring the optimal downstream performance in various neuronal models perfectly complements the potential of the constantly expanding and evolving array of sophisticated sensors of intracellular processes. Most of them are based on allowing observation of these processes in live cells by measuring changes in the intensity or distribution of fluorescence, or its modality (e.g. FRET). They are already proving to be extremely instrumental in monitoring neuronal activity, mitochondrial health and many other parameters of highest relevance to human stem cell-based modelling of neurodegenerative diseases.

We continue to work on developing new and utilising and improving a wide range of existing reporters for a variety of cellular functions, localised to many cellular compartments, from the nucleus to the mitochondrial matrix.