Improved “Optical Highlighter” Probes Derived from Discosoma Red Fluorescent Protein

Robinson, Lisbeth C.
Marchant, Jonathan S.

Open link

Publication date

February 2005

DOI

10.1529/biophysj.104.045617

Publisher

The Biophysical Society. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Abstract

AbstractThe tetrameric red fluorescent protein, DsRed, undergoes a rapid red to green color change evoked by short wavelength (λ<760nm) femtosecond irradiation—a phenomenon that underpins the application of DsRed as an “optical highlighter” probe for tracking live cells, organelles, and fusion proteins. This color change results from selective bleaching of the “mature” red-emitting species of DsRed and an enhancement of emission from the “immature” green species, likely caused by dequenching of fluorescence resonance energy transfer occurring within the protein tetramer. Here, we have examined the role of residues known to influence the rate and completeness of chromophore maturation on the cellular and biophysical properties of DsRed mutan...