Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Microbial Biosensors

Microbial Biosensors

Microbial biosensors are analytical devices that utilize living microbes to detect specific substances through measurable signals. These devices consist of two main components: biosensing organisms and signal-transducing elements. Biosensing organisms, such as Escherichia coli or Saccharomyces cerevisiae, are typically housed in multiwell plates connected to transducers, enabling rapid, real-time detection of target analytes.Signal Generation MechanismWhen a target analyte—such as...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Deep learning based design of buried hydrogen bond networks with HBDesigner.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026

Same author

Modulation of Oncogenic KRAS Signaling by Branched Actin-driven Cell Membrane Protrusions.

Research square·2026

Same author

A membrane-permeable small molecule biosensor accesses intractable cells and animals without genetic manipulation.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026

Same author

Control of Guanine Exchange Factor Activity Using <i>De Novo</i> Designed Protein Inhibitors.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026

Same author

Volumetric Cyclic Immunofluorescence for 3D Spatial Profiling of Immune Structures in Human FFPE Tissue.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026

Same author

RhoG, Rac1 and Cdc42 cooperation in cell protrusion revealed by multiplexed optogenetics and biosensor imaging.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 24, 2026

Drug-induced Sensitization of Adenylyl Cyclase: Assay Streamlining and Miniaturization for Small Molecule and siRNA Screening Applications

Drug-induced Sensitization of Adenylyl Cyclase: Assay Streamlining and Miniaturization for Small Molecule and siRNA Screening Applications

Published on: January 27, 2014

Engineered interfaces in Rac1 and Cdc42 biosensors enhance sensitivity and reduce cell perturbation.

Daniel J Marston^1,2, Ellen C O'Shaughnessy^1,3, Timothy M Jacobs⁴

¹Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, 27599 NC.

Molecular Biology of the Cell

|February 18, 2026

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Engineered fluorescent biosensors minimize interference with cellular activities. Novel designs reduce unwanted protein interactions, enabling more accurate tracking of protein dynamics in live cells.

More Related Videos

Exploring Biomolecular Interaction Between the Molecular Chaperone Hsp90 and Its Client Protein Kinase Cdc37 using Field-Effect Biosensing Technology

Exploring Biomolecular Interaction Between the Molecular Chaperone Hsp90 and Its Client Protein Kinase Cdc37 using Field-Effect Biosensing Technology

Published on: March 31, 2022

Efficient Sampling of Genetically Encoded Biosensor Design Space Enabled with a Design of Experiments and Automation Workflow

Efficient Sampling of Genetically Encoded Biosensor Design Space Enabled with a Design of Experiments and Automation Workflow

Published on: October 17, 2025

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 24, 2026

Drug-induced Sensitization of Adenylyl Cyclase: Assay Streamlining and Miniaturization for Small Molecule and siRNA Screening Applications

Drug-induced Sensitization of Adenylyl Cyclase: Assay Streamlining and Miniaturization for Small Molecule and siRNA Screening Applications

Published on: January 27, 2014

Exploring Biomolecular Interaction Between the Molecular Chaperone Hsp90 and Its Client Protein Kinase Cdc37 using Field-Effect Biosensing Technology

Exploring Biomolecular Interaction Between the Molecular Chaperone Hsp90 and Its Client Protein Kinase Cdc37 using Field-Effect Biosensing Technology

Published on: March 31, 2022

Efficient Sampling of Genetically Encoded Biosensor Design Space Enabled with a Design of Experiments and Automation Workflow

Efficient Sampling of Genetically Encoded Biosensor Design Space Enabled with a Design of Experiments and Automation Workflow

Published on: October 17, 2025

Area of Science:

Biochemistry
Cell Biology
Molecular Imaging

Background:

Fluorescent biosensors are crucial for observing protein dynamics in living systems.
Biosensor interference with target protein activity can lead to inaccurate results.
Forster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET)-based biosensors can be perturbed by off-target interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

To engineer improved FRET-based biosensors with reduced off-target interactions.
To enhance the accuracy and reliability of protein activity monitoring in live cells.
To develop biosensors that minimally perturb cellular processes.

Main Methods:

Engineering biosensor interfaces using charge swap and 'knob into hole' mutations.
Developing novel biosensors for Rac1 and Cdc42 GTPases.
Assessing biosensor interactions with endogenous proteins and their effect on cell motility.
Utilizing computational modeling to evaluate biosensor perturbation.

Main Results:

Engineered biosensors exhibited reduced interactions with endogenous GTPases and effectors.
Novel Rac1 and Cdc42 biosensors showed normal activation by guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs).
Biosensor development correctly reproduced previously reported GTPase activation dynamics.
Reduced perturbation of normal cell motility was observed with the new biosensors.

Conclusions:

Engineered biosensor designs significantly minimize unwanted interactions, improving accuracy.
The novel biosensors provide a more faithful representation of protein activity dynamics.
These improved biosensors offer a broader concentration range for minimal cellular perturbation.