Innovation: Photoactivatable fluorescent proteins

Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. 2005 Nov;6(11):885-91. doi: 10.1038/nrm1741.

Abstract

The fluorescence characteristics of photoactivatable proteins can be controlled by irradiating them with light of a specific wavelength, intensity and duration. This provides unique possibilities for the optical labelling and tracking of living cells, organelles and intracellular molecules in a spatio-temporal manner. Here, we discuss the properties of the available photoactivatable fluorescent proteins and their potential applications.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Fluorescence
  • Luminescent Proteins / analysis*
  • Luminescent Proteins / chemistry*
  • Luminescent Proteins / genetics
  • Photochemistry / methods*

Substances

  • Luminescent Proteins