GCaMP6s

GCaMP6s is a genetically encoded calcium indicator. It is a genetically encoded protein that fluoresces in response to increased intracellular calcium ion concentrations. GCaMP6s is a variant of the Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) and a circularly permuted calmodulin. When calcium ions bind to calmodulin, it undergoes a conformational change, which in turn causes a change in the fluorescence properties of the GFP portion.

This indicator has found widespread use in neuroscience research. Researchers utilize GCaMP6s to visualize and quantify neuronal activity in living animals. By genetically introducing GCaMP6s into neurons, the fluorescence signal emitted by these cells can be monitored using techniques like two-photon microscopy. This allows for the observation of neural circuits in action and the study of how they respond to stimuli or during behaviors.

The 's' in GCaMP6s denotes its specific variant. Different GCaMP variants, including GCaMP6f, GCaMP6m, and GCaMP6s, were developed to optimize properties such as response kinetics, dynamic range, and sensitivity to calcium. GCaMP6s is known for its relatively fast response time and good signal-to-noise ratio, making it suitable for capturing rapid neuronal firing events. Its improved sensitivity allows for the detection of calcium transients from smaller and less active neuronal populations. These characteristics have made GCaMP6s a popular choice for a variety of in vivo and in vitro calcium imaging experiments.