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Dependence of fluorescent protein brightness on protein concentration in solution and enhancement of it.

ABSTRACT: Fluorescent proteins have been widely used in biology because of their compatibility and varied applications in living specimens. Fluorescent proteins are often undesirably sensitive to intracellular conditions such as pH and ion concentration, generating considerable issues at times. However, harnessing these intrinsic sensitivities can help develop functional probes. In this study, we found that the fluorescence of yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) depends on the protein concentration in the solution and that this dependence can be enhanced by adding a glycine residue in to the YFP; we applied this finding to construct an intracellular protein-crowding sensor. A Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) pair, involving a cyan fluorescent protein (CFP) insensitive to protein concentration and a glycine-inserted YFP, works as a genetically encoded probe to evaluate intracellular crowding. By measuring the fluorescence of the present FRET probe, we were able to detect dynamic changes in protein crowding in living cells.

SUBMITTER: Morikawa TJ

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4783657 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Dependence of fluorescent protein brightness on protein concentration in solution and enhancement of it.

Morikawa Takamitsu J TJ Fujita Hideaki H Kitamura Akira A Horio Takashi T Yamamoto Johtaro J Kinjo Masataka M Sasaki Akira A Machiyama Hiroaki H Yoshizawa Keiko K Ichimura Taro T Imada Katsumi K Nagai Takeharu T Watanabe Tomonobu M TM

Scientific reports 20160309

Fluorescent proteins have been widely used in biology because of their compatibility and varied applications in living specimens. Fluorescent proteins are often undesirably sensitive to intracellular conditions such as pH and ion concentration, generating considerable issues at times. However, harnessing these intrinsic sensitivities can help develop functional probes. In this study, we found that the fluorescence of yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) depends on the protein concentration in the so ...[more]

PMID: 26956628

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Dependence of fluorescent protein brightness on protein concentration in solution and enhancement of it.

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Dependence of fluorescent protein brightness on protein concentration in solution and enhancement of it.

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