Monitoring protein interactions and dynamics with solvatochromic fluorophores.
Solvatochromic fluorophores possess emission properties that are sensitive to the nature of the local microenvironment. These dyes have been exploited in applications ranging from the study of protein structural dynamics to the detection of protein-binding interactions. Although the solvatochromic indole fluorophore of tryptophan has been utilized extensively for in vitro studies to advance our understanding of basic protein biochemistry, the emergence of new extrinsic synthetic dyes with improved properties, in conjunction with recent developments in site-selective methods to incorporate these chemical tools into proteins, now open the way for studies in more complex systems. Herein, we discuss recent technological advancements and their application in the design of powerful reporters, which serve critical roles in modern cell biology and assay development.
Loving
Galen S
GS
Department of Chemistry and Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139-4307, USA.
Sainlos
Matthieu
M
Imperiali
Barbara
B
D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding; D025941:Protein Interaction Mapping / Q000379:methods*; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods
D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D011506:Proteins