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Updated: Aug 8, 2026

Bioluminescent Optogenetics 2.0: Harnessing Bioluminescence to Activate Photosensory Proteins In Vitro and In Vivo
Published on: August 4, 2021
The kindling fluorescent protein: a transient photoswitchable marker
J Nathan Henderson1, S James Remington
1Department of Chemistry, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, USA.
Abstract:
Passive fluorescent protein markers are indispensable for dynamic cellular imaging; however, they are unselective, introduce constant background fluorescence, and require continuous observation. Photoactivatable fluorescent proteins have now been developed whose fluorescence can be switched on and off by illumination, allowing selective and direct tracking of tagged objects without the need for continuous imaging. The "kindling fluorescent protein" is a photoactivatable marker with a novel twist: it turns itself off after a selectable period.
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