title: Fluorescent proteins: shine on, you crazy diamond.
abstract: In this Perspective we discuss recent trends in the development and applications of fluorescent proteins. We start by providing a historical and structural perspective of their spectroscopic and structural aspects and describe how these properties have made fluorescent proteins essential as 'smart labels' for biosensing and advanced fluorescence imaging. We show that the strong link between the spectroscopic properties and protein structure and properties is a necessary element in these developments and that this dependence makes the proteins excellent model systems for a variety of fields. We pay particular attention to emerging or future research opportunities and unsolved questions.
authors: Department of Chemistry, University of Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium. peter.dedecker@hotmail.com
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Dedecker
authors: Frans C
authors: FC
authors: De Schryver
authors: Johan
authors: J
authors: Hofkens
mesh_terms: D015374:Biosensing Techniques; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000639:trends; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008958:Models, Molecular
chemical_list: D008164:Luminescent Proteins