A strategy for the generation of non-aggregating mutants of Anthozoa fluorescent proteins

FEBS Lett. 2002 Jan 30;511(1-3):11-4. doi: 10.1016/s0014-5793(01)03263-x.

Abstract

Recently, we cloned several fluorescent proteins of different colors homologous to Aequorea victoria green fluorescent protein, which have great biotechnological potential as in vivo markers of gene expression. However, later investigations revealed severe drawbacks in the use of novel fluorescent proteins (FPs), in particular, the formation of tetramers (tetramerization) and high molecular weight aggregates (aggregation). In this report, we employ a mutagenic approach to resolve the problem of aggregation. The elimination of basic residues located near the N-termini of FPs results in the generation of non-aggregating versions of several FPs, specifically, drFP583 (DsRed), DsRed-Timer, ds/drFP616, zFP506, zFP538, amFP486, and asFP595.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Substitution / genetics
  • Animals
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Cnidaria* / chemistry
  • Cnidaria* / genetics
  • Color
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Fluorescence
  • Luminescent Proteins / chemistry
  • Luminescent Proteins / genetics*
  • Luminescent Proteins / metabolism*
  • Molecular Weight
  • Mutagenesis, Site-Directed / genetics
  • Mutation / genetics*
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Structure, Quaternary

Substances

  • Luminescent Proteins