A noncytotoxic DsRed variant for whole-cell labeling.

Strack, Rita L; Strongin, Daniel E; Bhattacharyya, Dibyendu; Tao, Wen; Berman, Allison; Broxmeyer, Hal E; Keenan, Robert J; Glick, Benjamin S · Nat Methods · 2008

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

A common application of fluorescent proteins is to label whole cells, but many RFPs are cytotoxic when used with standard high-level expression systems. We engineered a rapidly maturing tetrameric fluorescent protein called DsRed-Express2 that has minimal cytotoxicity. DsRed-Express2 exhibits strong and stable expression in bacterial and mammalian cells, and it outperforms other available RFPs with regard to photostability and phototoxicity.

Medical subject headings