Reporter proteins for in vivo fluorescence without oxygen.

Drepper, Thomas; Eggert, Thorsten; Circolone, Franco; Heck, Achim; Krauss, Ulrich; Guterl, Jan-Karl; Wendorff, Marion; Losi, Aba et al. · Nat Biotechnol · 2007

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Fluorescent reporter proteins such as green fluorescent protein are valuable noninvasive molecular tools for in vivo real-time imaging of living specimens. However, their use is generally restricted to aerobic systems, as the formation of their chromophores strictly requires oxygen. Starting with blue-light photoreceptors from Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas putida that contain light-oxygen-voltage-sensing domains, we engineered flavin mononucleotide-based fluorescent proteins that can be used as fluorescent reporters in both aerobic and anaerobic biological systems.

Medical subject headings