Supersensitive Ras activation in dendrites and spines revealed by two-photon fluorescence lifetime imaging

To understand the biochemical signals regulated by neural activity, it is necessary to measure protein-protein interactions and enzymatic activity in neuronal microcompartments such as axons, dendrites and their spines. We combined two-photon excitation laser scanning with fluorescence lifetime imaging to measure fluorescence resonance energy transfer at high resolutions in brain slices. We also developed sensitive fluorescent protein-based sensors for the activation of the small GTPase protein Ras with slow (FRas) and fast (FRas-F) kinetics. Using FRas-F, we found in CA1 hippocampal neurons that trains of back-propagating action potentials rapidly and reversibly activated Ras in dendrites and spines. The relationship between firing rate and Ras activation was highly nonlinear (Hill coefficient ∼5). This steep dependence was caused by a highly cooperative interaction between calcium ions (Ca²⁺) and Ras activators. The Ras pathway therefore functions as a supersensitive threshold detector for neural activity and Ca²⁺ concentration.