title: Advanced in vivo applications of blue light photoreceptors as alternative fluorescent proteins.
abstract: The ultimate ambition in cell biology, microbiology and biomedicine is to unravel complex physiological and pathophysiological processes within living organisms. To conquer this challenge, fluorescent proteins (FPs) are used as versatile in vivo reporters and biosensors to study gene regulation as well as the synthesis, localization and function of proteins in living cells. The most widely used FPs are the green fluorescent protein (GFP) and its derivatives and relatives. Their use as in vivo reporter proteins, however, is sometimes restricted by different environmental and cellular factors. Consequently, a whole range of alternative, cofactor-dependent reporter proteins have been developed recently. In this perspective, we summarize the advantages and limitations of the novel class of cyan-green fluorescent flavoproteins in comparison to members of the GFP family and discuss some correlated consequences for the use of FPs as in vivo reporters.
authors: Institute of Molecular Enzyme Technology, Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Juelich, Germany. t.drepper@fz-juelich.de
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Drepper
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Gensch
authors: Martina
authors: M
authors: Pohl
mesh_terms: D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000378:metabolism; D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism; D005486:Flavin Mononucleotide / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D005420:Flavoproteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D031541:Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008027:Light; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D010100:Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry; D011485:Protein Binding; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D005420:Flavoproteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D005486:Flavin Mononucleotide; D010100:Oxygen