Rational design of a pH-insensitive cyan fluorescent protein CyPet2 based on the CyPet crystal structure

The emission spectrum of widely used CyPet is pH-sensitive. In order to synthesize a pH-insensitive cyan fluorescent protein by rational design, we solved the crystal structures of CyPet under different pH conditions. The indole group of the CyPet chromophore adopts a cis-coplanar conformation in acidic and neutral conditions, while it converts to trans-coplanar under basic conditions. His148 and Glu222 play a vital role in this isomerization. The pH-sensitive chromophore isomerization and change in the emission spectrum can be explained by the coexistence of several different fluorescent states. We trap the chromophore in the trans conformation by A167I mutation (CyPet2), which also prevents the multiconformation of the seventh β-strand. CyPet2 exhibits an unchanged emission spectral shape as a function of pH.