A never ending race for new and improved fluorescent proteins
Alexander M Jones1, David W Ehrhardt, Wolf B Frommer
1Carnegie Institution for Science, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
BMC Biology
|May 5, 2012
Summary
Researchers developed a new orange fluorescent protein for plant research. This advancement aids scientists in selecting the best fluorescent protein tools for diverse biological applications.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Molecular Biology
- Plant Science
Background:
- Fluorescent proteins are essential research tools across all organisms.
- Significant advancements in fluorescent protein technology have occurred over the last 15 years.
- Selecting the optimal fluorescent protein variant for specific applications remains a challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce and characterize a novel orange fluorescent protein (OFP) suitable for use in plants.
- To expand the available palette of fluorescent proteins for plant research applications.
Main Methods:
- Development and characterization of a new orange fluorescent protein.
- Testing the protein's performance and suitability in plant systems.
Main Results:
- A new orange fluorescent protein has been successfully developed and characterized.
- The new OFP demonstrates utility for research applications in plants.
Conclusions:
- The newly developed orange fluorescent protein offers a valuable addition to the toolkit for plant biotechnology.
- This research addresses the need for diverse fluorescent protein options to optimize experimental design in plant science.
Related Concept Videos
01:37Super-resolution Fluorescence Microscopy
Super-resolution fluorescence microscopy (SRFM) provides a better resolution than conventional fluorescence microscopy by reducing the point spread function (PSF). PSF is the light intensity distribution from a point that causes it to appear blurred. Due to PSF, each fluorescing point appears bigger than its actual size, and it is the PSF interference of nearby fluorophores that causes the blurred image. Various approaches to achieving higher resolution through SRFM have recently been developed.
01:19Protein Dynamics in Living Cells
Different fluorescence-based techniques are used to study the protein dynamics in living cells. These techniques include FRAP, FRET, and PET.
Fluorescent recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) is a fluorescent-protein-based detection technique used to quantify protein movement rates within the cell. This method exposes a small portion of the cell to an intense laser beam. The laser beam causes permanent photobleaching of the fluorophore-tagged proteins in the exposed region. As the bleached...
Fluorescent recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) is a fluorescent-protein-based detection technique used to quantify protein movement rates within the cell. This method exposes a small portion of the cell to an intense laser beam. The laser beam causes permanent photobleaching of the fluorophore-tagged proteins in the exposed region. As the bleached...
02:11Reporter Genes
Reporter genes are a type of protein-coding gene that are often tagged to a gene of interest. Once inside a target cell, reporter genes usually produce visually identifiable characteristics like fluorescence and luminescence when expressed along with the gene of interest. Thus, reporter genes “report” the presence or absence of genes of interest in an organism, determine the gene expression pattern, or track the physical location of a DNA segment or protein in the cell.
Commonly used reporter...
Commonly used reporter...
01:25Fluorescence and Phosphorescence: Instrumentation
Fluorometers and spectrofluorometers are two types of instruments used for measuring molecular fluorescence. These instruments differ in how they select excitation and emission wavelengths and the type of light sources they utilize. Fluorometers use absorption interference filters to choose excitation and emission wavelengths. The excitation source in a fluorometer is typically a low-pressure mercury vapor lamp that emits intense lines distributed throughout the ultraviolet and visible regions.