Ultrafast fluorescence depolarisation in green fluorescence protein tandem dimers as hydrophobic environment sensitive probes

Phys Chem Chem Phys. 2023 Jul 26;25(29):19532-19539. doi: 10.1039/d3cp01765f.

Abstract

Advances in ultra-fast photonics have enabled monitoring of biochemical interactions on a sub nano-second time scale. In addition, picosecond dynamics of intermolecular energy transfer in fluorescent proteins has been observed. Here, we present the development of a genetically encoded fluorescent sensor that can detect changes in hydrophobicity by monitoring ultrafast fluorescence depolarisation. Our sensor is composed of a pair of dimeric enhanced green fluorescent proteins (dEGFPs) linked by a flexible amino-acid linker. We show dimerisation is perturbed by the addition of glycerol which interferes with the hydrophobic interaction of the two proteins. Time-resolved fluorescence anisotropy revealed a systematic attenuation of ultrafast fluorescence depolarisation when the sensor was exposed to increasing glycerol concentrations. This suggests that as hydrophobicity increases, dEGFP pairing decreases within a tandem dimer. Un-pairing of the protein fluorophores dramatically alters the rate of energy transfer between the proteins, resulting in an increase in the limiting anisotropy of the sensor.

MeSH terms

  • Fluorescence Polarization
  • Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer / methods
  • Glycerol*
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / chemistry
  • Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  • Polymers*
  • Spectrometry, Fluorescence

Substances

  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Glycerol
  • Polymers