Using Co-Cultures Expressing Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer Based Protein Biosensors to Simultaneously Image Caspase-3 and Ca²⁺ Signaling

Abstract

Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based protein biosensors allow the spatial and temporal imaging of signaling events in living cells. However, the simultaneous correlation of multiple events of a signaling pathway is hindered by the spectral cross-talk between fluorescent proteins. Here, we show, for signaling pathways that progress synchronously, multiple events can be correlated by using co-cultures expressing different FRET-based protein biosensors. As a demonstration, we investigated the simultaneous caspase-3 and Ca²⁺ signaling events involved in cell death of COS-7 cells induced by 10 mM H₂O₂. Interestingly, this H₂O₂ stimulus induced synchronous caspase-3 activation and Ca²⁺ signaling. In parallel to caspase-3 activation, cytosolic Ca²⁺ concentration, [Ca²⁺]_c, gradually rises to its peak and then slowly drops. As cell shrinkage and rounding ensues, [Ca²⁺]_c again gradually rises to its peak and then reaches a plateau. These observations reveal the relative timing and location of these signaling events in cell death induced by this stimulus of H₂O₂. Finally, our approach offers an exciting opportunity for spatial and temporal imaging of multiple events in a signaling pathway in living cells.