(1367-D) Reporter Systems for Live Imaging of iPSC-Derived Neuronal Cells

Abstract: The use of physiologically relevant cell models, such as induced Pluripotent Stem Cell (iPSC)-derived neuronal cells, is important to gain biological insights that can ultimately impact human disease. However, implementing an imaging reporter system is a significant challenge in these types of non-immortalized cell cultures. Live cell imaging requires bright and photostable fluorophores to minimize damage to cells and persist across extended timepoints. Here we show that iPSC-derived neuronal cells (BrainXell) stably expressing a HaloTag® reporter (Promega) to be compatible with the latest version of HaloTag® fluorescent imaging dyes (Janelia Research Campus). Vital components of these HaloTag® dyes are improved fluorogenicity, which allows for low background, and an addition-only staining protocol which leads to minimal disturbance of neuronal cultures. Furthermore, when the HaloTag® reporter is introduced to these cells it can be linked to a luminescent reporter, NanoLuc® Luciferase, which allows quantitative determination of either cell or protein of interest (POI) abundance.