Strain Detail: hyBRET-AMPK mice

Genetically encoded biosensors based on the principle of Förster resonance energy transfer comprise two classes: biosensors based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) and those based on bioluminescence energy transfer (BRET). Various FRET biosensors have been developed as tools to visualize signaling-molecule activity in live cells or live animals. However, these FRET biosensors are challenging to be applied to a drug screening system targeting intracellular signal transduction molecules because many low molecular weight compounds for drug screening have fluorescence and the molecular activity cannot be monitored due to the competition of their fluorescence with that of the FRET biosensor. BRET biosensors are suitable for drug screening because of no such drawbacks, but their emission is not bright enough for in vivo bioimaging. To solve this problem, Dr. Matuda’s group developed BRET-FRET hybrid biosensors called hyBRET biosensors. These hyBRET biosensors can be used as FRET biosensors with blue light, and as BRET biosensors with coelenterazine (luciferase substrates).

Mice of this strain are transgenic mice expressing cytoplasm-localized hyBRET biosensors monitoring AMPK kinase activity under the control of CAG promoter in their entire body.

1. Komatsu N, Terai K, Imanishi A, Kamioka Y, Sumiyama K, Jin T, Okada Y, Nagai T, and Matsuda M. (2018) A platform of BRET-FRET hybrid biosensors for optogenetics, chemical screening, and in vivo imaging. Sci Rep 8(1):8984. [PMID:29895862]