Imaging of magnesium mobilization in neurons using newly developed magnesium selective fluorescent probes

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25750395
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Chemical biology
• Research Institution: Keio University
• Principal Investigator: SHINDO Yutaka 慶應義塾大学, 理工学部, 助教 (30449029)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 蛍光イメージング / 神経細胞 / マグネシウム

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this project, we investigated intracellular magnesium mobilization in rat hippocampal neurons using KMG series, magnesium selective fluorescent probes developed in our group. We developed magnesium imaging technique to visualize changes in magnesium concentration in local area in cells using newly developed probe, KMG-104-AsH, and published in JACS. Using those probes, we demonstrated that application of nitric oxide to cultured neurons induces magnesium release from mitochondria, resulting in the increase in cytoplasmic magnesium concentration. This result has been published in FEBS letters. Moreover, we found that GABA, which is an inhibitory neurotransmitter, and neuronal firing itself also increase magnesium concentration in neurons. These results have been presented in conferences. Our results obtained in this project clearly show that magnesium concentration in neurons can change during neuronal activities.

Free Research Field

神経科学