Imaging Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)

Abstract

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is a universal mediator of metabolism and signaling across unicellular and multicellular species. There is a fundamental interdependence between the dynamics of ATP and the physiology that occurs inside and outside the cell. Characterizing and understanding ATP dynamics provides valuable mechanistic insight into processes that range from neurotransmission to the chemotaxis of immune cells. Therefore, we require the methodology to interrogate both temporal and spatial components of ATP dynamics from the subcellular to organismal levels in live specimens. Over the last several decades, a number of molecular probes that are specific for ATP have been developed. These probes have been combined with imaging approaches, particularly optical microscopy, to enable qualitative and quantitative detection of this critical molecule. In this review, we survey current examples of technologies that are available to visualize ATP in living cells and identify areas where new tools and approaches are needed to expand our capabilities.

FRET‐based imaging of intracellular ATP in organotypic brain slices

“…In the present study, we demonstrate that organotypic tissue slice cultures are a suitable tool to investigate dynamic changes in cellular ATP levels employing Ateam, a genetically encoded FRET‐based nanosensor for ATP (Imamura et al, ). Earlier strategies for detection of intracellular ATP include bioluminescence imaging employing the luciferin‐luciferase assay (Ainscow, Mirshamsi, Tang, Ashford, & Rutter, ; Arcuino et al, ; Rajendran, Dane, Conley, & Tantama, ; Rangaraju, Calloway, & Ryan, ). In the intact tissue however, this approach inherits a low signal‐to‐noise‐ratio and/or suffers from low temporal resolution.…”

Cationic Europium Complexes for Visualizing Fluctuations in Mitochondrial ATP Levels in Living Cells

“…Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is the most abundant nucleoside polyphosphate (NPP) anion in cells and serves as the chemical energy source for most biological processes, including organelle transport, muscle contraction and maintenance of neuronal membrane potential . Despite its importance, there are surprisingly few imaging probes capable of signalling the presence of ATP rapidly, reversibly and selectively under physiological conditions .…”

“…The majority of ATP is generated by the mitochondria by oxidative phosphorylation. Numerous enzymes utilize ATP as a substrate, including ATPases, kinases, and RNA polymerases; thus ATP plays a key role in signalling and the regulation of enzyme function . The release of ATP to the extracellular space has been identified in both damaged and apoptotic cells.…”

“…Current methods for monitoring the concentration of ATP in living cells have limitations . The enzyme firefly luciferase can be expressed in cells to measure ATP levels indirectly, by catalyzing a chemiluminescent reaction between ATP and luciferin .…”

“…Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is the most abundant nucleoside polyphosphate (NPP) anion in cells [1,2] and serves as the chemical energy source for most biological processes, including organellet ransport, muscle contraction and maintenance of neuronal membrane potential. [2][3][4] Despite its importance,t here are surprisingly few imaging probesc apable of signallingt he presence of ATPr apidly, reversibly and selectively under physiological conditions. [5,6] We have addressed this challenge by creating al uminescent europium(III) complex capable of imaging dynamic changes in the concentration of ATPi nt he mitochondria of living cells.…”