Aequorea's secrets revealed: New fluorescent proteins with unique properties for bioimaging and biosensing

PLoS Biol. 2020 Nov 2;18(11):e3000936. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000936. eCollection 2020 Nov.

Abstract

Using mRNA sequencing and de novo transcriptome assembly, we identified, cloned, and characterized 9 previously undiscovered fluorescent protein (FP) homologs from Aequorea victoria and a related Aequorea species, with most sequences highly divergent from A. victoria green fluorescent protein (avGFP). Among these FPs are the brightest green fluorescent protein (GFP) homolog yet characterized and a reversibly photochromic FP that responds to UV and blue light. Beyond green emitters, Aequorea species express purple- and blue-pigmented chromoproteins (CPs) with absorbances ranging from green to far-red, including 2 that are photoconvertible. X-ray crystallography revealed that Aequorea CPs contain a chemically novel chromophore with an unexpected crosslink to the main polypeptide chain. Because of the unique attributes of several of these newly discovered FPs, we expect that Aequorea will, once again, give rise to an entirely new generation of useful probes for bioimaging and biosensing.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biosensing Techniques
  • Color
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / chemistry
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / genetics
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / metabolism
  • Hydrozoa / chemistry
  • Hydrozoa / genetics*
  • Hydrozoa / metabolism*
  • Luminescent Proteins / chemistry
  • Luminescent Proteins / genetics*
  • Luminescent Proteins / metabolism*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Optical Imaging
  • Phylogeny
  • Static Electricity

Substances

  • Luminescent Proteins
  • green fluorescent protein, Aequorea victoria
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins