Nakamura Takeshi, Matsuda Michiyuki
Laboratory of Bioimaging and Cell Signaling, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
Curr Protoc Cell Biol. 2009 Dec;Chapter 14:Unit 14.10. doi: 10.1002/0471143030.cb1410s45.
Genetically encoded FRET probes enable us to visualize a variety of signaling events such as protein phosphorylation and G-protein activation in living cells. This unit focuses on FRET probes wherein both the donor and acceptor are fluorescence proteins and incorporated into a single molecule, i.e., a unimolecular probe. Advantages of these probes lie in their easy loading into cells, simple acquisition of FRET images, and clear evaluation of data. We have developed FRET probes for Ras-superfamily GTPases, designated Ras and interacting protein chimeric unit (Raichu) probes. We hereby describe strategies to develop Raichu-type FRET probes, procedures for their characterization, and acquisition and processing of images. Although improvements upon FRET probes are still based on trial-and-error, we provide practical tips for their optimization and briefly discuss the theory and applications of unimolecular FRET probes.
基因编码的荧光共振能量转移(FRET)探针使我们能够在活细胞中可视化各种信号事件,如蛋白质磷酸化和G蛋白激活。本单元重点介绍供体和受体均为荧光蛋白并整合到单个分子中的FRET探针,即单分子探针。这些探针的优点在于易于导入细胞、FRET图像采集简单以及数据评估清晰。我们开发了用于Ras超家族GTP酶的FRET探针,称为Ras与相互作用蛋白嵌合单元(Raichu)探针。在此,我们描述开发Raichu型FRET探针的策略、其表征程序以及图像采集和处理方法。尽管FRET探针的改进仍基于反复试验,但我们提供了优化它们的实用技巧,并简要讨论了单分子FRET探针的理论和应用。