title: Illuminating biological processes through site-specific protein labeling.
abstract: Coupling genetically encoded peptide tags or unnatural amino acids (UAAs) with bioorthogonal reactions allows for precise control over the protein-labeling sites as well as the wide choice of labeling dyes. However, the value of these site-specific protein labeling strategies in a real biology setting, particularly their advantages over conventional labeling methods including fluorescent proteins (FPs), remains to be fully demonstrated. In this tutorial review, we first introduce various strategies for site-specific protein labeling that utilize artificial peptide sequences or genetically encoded UAAs as the labeling handle. Emphasis will be placed on introducing the advantages of protein site-specific labeling techniques as well as their applications in solving biological problems, particularly as to why a site-specific protein labeling approach is needed. Finally, beyond the widely used single site-specific labeling methods, the recently emerged dual site-specific protein labeling strategies will be introduced together with their fast-growing potential in illustrating biological processes.
authors: Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China.
authors: Gong
authors: G
authors: Zhang
authors: Siqi
authors: S
authors: Zheng
authors: Haiping
authors: H
authors: Liu
authors: Peng R
authors: PR
authors: Chen
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D008958:Models, Molecular; D015336:Molecular Probe Techniques; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D011506:Proteins