title: A genetically encoded photosensitizer.
abstract: Photosensitizers are chromophores that generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) upon light irradiation. They are used for inactivation of specific proteins by chromophore-assisted light inactivation (CALI) and for light-induced cell killing in photodynamic therapy. Here we report a genetically encoded photosensitizer, which we call KillerRed, developed from the hydrozoan chromoprotein anm2CP, a homolog of green fluorescent protein (GFP). KillerRed generates ROS upon irradiation with green light. Whereas known photosensitizers must be added to living systems exogenously, KillerRed is fully genetically encoded. We demonstrate the utility of KillerRed for light-induced killing of Escherichia coli and eukaryotic cells and for inactivating fusions to beta-galactosidase and phospholipase Cdelta1 pleckstrin homology domain.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry RAS, Miklukho-Maklaya 16/10, Moscow 117997, Russia.
authors.forename: Maria E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Bulina
authors.forename: Dmitriy M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Chudakov
authors.forename: Olga V
authors.initials: OV
authors.lastname: Britanova
authors.forename: Yurii G
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Yanushevich
authors.forename: Dmitry B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Staroverov
authors.forename: Tatyana V
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: Chepurnykh
authors.forename: Ekaterina M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Merzlyak
authors.forename: Maria A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Shkrob
authors.forename: Sergey
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lukyanov
authors.forename: Konstantin A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Lukyanov
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000528:radiation effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000528:radiation effects; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000166:cytology* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008027:Light; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D015202:Protein Engineering
chemical_list: D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; C508771:killer red protein, Anthomedusae; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins