title: Illumination of the spatial order of intracellular pH by genetically encoded pH-sensitive sensors.
abstract: Fluorescent proteins have been extensively used for engineering genetically encoded sensors that can monitor levels of ions, enzyme activities, redox potential, and metabolites. Certain fluorescent proteins possess specific pH-dependent spectroscopic features, and thus can be used as indicators of intracellular pH. Moreover, concatenated pH-sensitive proteins with target proteins pin the pH sensors to a definite location within the cell, compartment, or tissue. This study provides an overview of the continually expanding family of pH-sensitive fluorescent proteins that have become essential tools for studies of pH homeostasis and cell physiology. We describe and discuss the design of intensity-based and ratiometric pH sensors, their spectral properties and pH-dependency, as well as their performance. Finally, we illustrate some examples of the applications of pH sensors targeted at different subcellular compartments.
authors: Laboratory of Biotechnology, National Institute of Chemistry, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia. mojca.bencina@ki.si.
authors: Mojca
authors: M
authors: Benčina
mesh_terms: D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D002468:Cell Physiological Phenomena / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D005818:Genetic Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D008164:Luminescent Proteins