Improved Tool Lets Scientists Watch GABA in the Brain

Scientists have created a better way to see the brain chemical GABA. The new sensor, called iGABASnFR2, is brighter and faster than the first version. It can change its glow quickly when GABA appears, so researchers see signals more clearly. The team made many tiny changes to the protein. They tested each change on brain cells grown in a dish. The best version lights up 4 times stronger and reacts 30% faster than before. Some versions work the opposite way.When GABA binds, they dim instead of brighten. One of these, called iGABASnFR2n, helps confirm results from the bright version. Because of these improvements, scientists used iGABASnFR2 in living animals. They measured GABA release that depends on direction in the eye’s retina. In the whisker‑area of the brain, the sensor showed GABA spreading after whisker touch. Overall, iGABASnFR2 is a powerful new tool. It lets researchers watch how GABA moves and works in real brain circuits.