Application of ATP dynamics visualization in live mice to central nervous system diseases

Abstract

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is a crucial molecule which is used not only as an energy source in living organisms but also as a signaling molecule in various biochemical reactions. Real-time measurement of ATP dynamics in vivo is necessary to elucidate the physiological and pathological mechanisms involving ATP. However, conventional techniques have lacked sufficient temporal and spatial resolution to evaluate ATP dynamics in those mechanisms. To overcome this limitation, we developed the AVID (ATP visualization in vivo directly) mouse, which expresses a genetically encoded biosensor, enabling real-time monitoring of ATP dynamics across organs and cells in via in vivo imaging. In this article, we show a multiscale and millisecond-scale ATP imaging using the AVID mouse. Furthermore, we introduce previous findings using genetically encoded biosensors that have elucidated physiological ATP functions in neurons and discuss how the AVID mouse may contribute to uncovering the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying central nervous system disorders.