Assessing K+ ions and K+ channel functions in cancer cell metabolism using fluorescent biosensors.

Cancer represents a leading cause of death worldwide. Hence, a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms causing and propelling the disease is of utmost importance. Several cancer entities are associated with altered K+ channel expression which is frequently decisive for malignancy and disease outcome. The impact of such oncogenic K+ channels on cell patho-/physiology and homeostasis and their roles in different subcellular compartments is, however, far from being understood. A refined method to simultaneously investigate metabolic and ionic signaling events on the level of individual cells and their organelles represent genetically encoded fluorescent biosensors, that allow a high-resolution investigation of compartmentalized metabolite or ion dynamics in a non-invasive manner. This feature of these probes makes them versatile tools to visualize and understand subcellular consequences of aberrant K+ channel expression and activity in K+ channel related cancer research. [Display omitted] • K+ ions and K+ channels modulate cancer malignancy. • K+ channels are located throughout (intra-) cellular membranes. • Fluorescent biosensors allow high resolution imaging of subcellular signaling events. • Biosensors are valuable tools to investigate metabolic consequences of oncogenic K+ channels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]