title: Singlet oxygen photosensitisation by GFP mutants: oxygen accessibility to the chromophore.
abstract: Aiming at the rational development of genetically-encoded photosensitisers, the production of singlet oxygen has been assessed for a number of class-2 Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) mutants by means of time-resolved near-infrared luminescence detection. The accessibility of molecular oxygen to the chromophore seems to play a major role in the ability of GFPs to photosensitise singlet oxygen and this can be modulated by introducing specific mutations such as replacement of His148 by a less bulky amino acid. GFPs are also good singlet oxygen quenchers, hence further developments in this area should also seek to eliminate those amino acids with the highest quenching ability, particularly those at the protein surface and in the vicinity of the chromophore.
authors.affiliation: Grup d'Engiyneria Molecular, Institut Químic de Sarrià, Via Augusta 390, 08017, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jiménez-Banzo
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ragàs
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abbruzzetti
authors.forename: Cristiano
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Viappiani
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Campanini
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Flors
authors.forename: Santi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nonell
mesh_terms: D019943:Amino Acid Substitution; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State; D049408:Luminescent Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D010100:Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry*; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D026082:Singlet Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D013053:Spectrophotometry
chemical_list: D049408:Luminescent Agents; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D026082:Singlet Oxygen; D010100:Oxygen