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Effect of Fluorescent Proteins on Fusion Partners Using Polyglutamine Toxicity Assays in Yeast

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Published on: November 28, 2018

Fluorescent proteins: a cell biologist's user guide.

Erik Lee Snapp¹

¹Department of Anatomy and Structural Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA. esnapp@aecom.yu.edu

Trends in Cell Biology

|October 13, 2009

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Fluorescent proteins (FPs) are valuable tools in cell biology, but current options and their applications are not always optimized for researchers. This guide helps biologists select and use FPs effectively for analyzing cellular processes.

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Area of Science:

Cell Biology
Molecular Biology
Biochemistry

Background:

Fluorescent Proteins (FPs) have become indispensable tools in cell biology, enabling visualization of proteins within living cells.
The widespread use of FPs, starting with Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP), has led to numerous publications and a vast array of FP options.

Purpose of the Study:

To address the suboptimal nature of current Fluorescent Protein (FP) tools for cell biologists.
To provide guidance on the selection and effective utilization of FPs for protein labeling and analysis in cellular processes.

Main Methods:

The guide synthesizes information on FP characteristics, including oligomer formation and photostability.
It evaluates common FP plasmids and FP-fusion protein constructs for their suitability in biological research.

Main Results:

Many commercially available and investigator-constructed FP-fusion proteins can disrupt crucial cellular targeting information.
Information regarding critical FP properties like oligomer formation and photostability is often not readily accessible or is anecdotal.

Conclusions:

The current FP toolbox requires optimization for cell biologists to maximize its utility.
This guide aims to assist researchers in making informed decisions for employing FPs in the analysis of cellular processes, improving experimental design and data interpretation.