Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 2, 2025
08:31
Luminescence Resonance Energy Transfer to Study Conformational Changes in Membrane Proteins Expressed in Mammalian Cells
Published on: September 16, 2014
12.1K
LanTERN: A Fluorescent Sensor That Specifically Responds to Lanthanides.
Ethan M Jones1,2, Yang Su1, Chris Sander1
1Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States.
ACS Synthetic Biology
|February 20, 2024
Summary
Researchers developed LanTERN, a novel lanthanide-responsive fluorescent protein, to overcome limitations in measuring lanthanide binding. This breakthrough enables new biosensing systems for these critical elements.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Synthetic Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Lanthanides are essential in modern technology but their purification is environmentally costly.
- Current biochemical tools are insufficient for measuring lanthanide binding, hindering synthetic biology advancements.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel biosensor for detecting lanthanide ions.
- To engineer a lanthanide-responsive fluorescent protein for improved detection.
Main Methods:
- Engineered mutations in a calcium indicator (GCaMP) to alter ion specificity.
- Utilized EF hand motifs for lanthanide binding.
- Measured fluorescence changes in response to lanthanide binding.
Main Results:
- Developed LanTERN, a fluorescent protein responsive to lanthanides.
- LanTERN exhibits a 14-fold or greater increase in fluorescence upon binding 10 different lanthanides.
- Successfully switched ion specificity from calcium to lanthanides.
Conclusions:
- LanTERN provides a new tool for measuring lanthanide ions.
- This development facilitates the creation of advanced lanthanide-binding proteins and biosensing systems.
- Offers a more sustainable approach to lanthanide detection and utilization.
Related Concept Videos
01:14Photoluminescence: Applications
395
Photoluminescence offers a wide range of applications due to its inherent sensitivity and selectivity. This technique allows for both direct and indirect analyses of the analyte. Direct quantitative analysis is possible when the analyte exhibits a favorable quantum yield for fluorescence or phosphorescence. However, an indirect analysis may be feasible if the analyte is not fluorescent or phosphorescent, or if the quantum yield is unfavorable. Indirect methods include reacting the analyte with...
395
01:23Photoluminescence: Fluorescence and Phosphorescence
2.1K
Photoluminescence is a process where a molecule absorbs light energy and re-emits it in the form of light. This phenomenon occurs when a substance absorbs photons, promoting its electrons to higher energy level excited states, followed by a relaxation process in which the electrons return to their original ground state energy levels and emit light. Photoluminescence is widely observed in various materials, including semiconductors, and organic and inorganic compounds.
A pair of electrons in a...
A pair of electrons in a...
2.1K
01:25Fluorescence and Phosphorescence: Instrumentation
594
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.
594
01:26Variables Affecting Phosphorescence and Fluorescence
501
Fluorescence and phosphorescence are essential phenomena in fields like analytical chemistry, biological imaging, and materials science, where they detect molecular properties and visualize cellular structures. Understanding the variables that influence these luminescent behaviors is crucial for maximizing accuracy and efficiency in their applications. These variables can broadly be grouped into chemical structure, solvent properties, and external conditions, each playing a distinct role in...
501