Over the past decades, the discovery and development of genetically encoded fluorescent proteins (FPs) has brought a revolution into our ability to study biologic phenomena directly within living matter. First, FPs enabled fluorescence-labeling of a variety of molecules of interest to study their localization, interactions and dynamic behavior at various scales—from cells to whole organisms/animals. Then, rationally engineered FP-based sensors facilitated the measurement of physicochemical parameters of living matter—especially at the intracellular level, such as ion concentration, temperature, viscosity, pressure, etc. In addition, FPs were exploited as inert tracers of the intracellular environment in which they are expressed. This oft-neglected role is made possible by two distinctive features of FPs: (i) the quite null, unspecific interactions of their characteristic β-barrel structure with the molecular components of the cellular environment; and (ii) their compatibility with the use of time-resolved fluorescence-based optical microscopy techniques. This review seeks to highlight the potential of such unique combinations of properties and report on the most significative and original applications (and related advancements of knowledge) produced to date. It is envisioned that the use of FPs as inert tracers of living matter structural organization holds a potential for several lines of further development in the next future, discussed in the last section of the review, which in turn can lead to new breakthroughs in bioimaging.

Back to the Future: Genetically Encoded Fluorescent Proteins as Inert Tracers of the Intracellular Environment

Cardarelli, Francesco
2020

Abstract

Over the past decades, the discovery and development of genetically encoded fluorescent proteins (FPs) has brought a revolution into our ability to study biologic phenomena directly within living matter. First, FPs enabled fluorescence-labeling of a variety of molecules of interest to study their localization, interactions and dynamic behavior at various scales—from cells to whole organisms/animals. Then, rationally engineered FP-based sensors facilitated the measurement of physicochemical parameters of living matter—especially at the intracellular level, such as ion concentration, temperature, viscosity, pressure, etc. In addition, FPs were exploited as inert tracers of the intracellular environment in which they are expressed. This oft-neglected role is made possible by two distinctive features of FPs: (i) the quite null, unspecific interactions of their characteristic β-barrel structure with the molecular components of the cellular environment; and (ii) their compatibility with the use of time-resolved fluorescence-based optical microscopy techniques. This review seeks to highlight the potential of such unique combinations of properties and report on the most significative and original applications (and related advancements of knowledge) produced to date. It is envisioned that the use of FPs as inert tracers of living matter structural organization holds a potential for several lines of further development in the next future, discussed in the last section of the review, which in turn can lead to new breakthroughs in bioimaging.
2020
Settore FIS/07 - Fisica Applicata(Beni Culturali, Ambientali, Biol.e Medicin)
GFP; inert tracer; cytoplasm; nucleus; fluorescence; time-resolved methods; diffusion
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
ijms-21-04164.pdf

accesso aperto

Tipologia: Published version
Licenza: Creative Commons
Dimensione 1.38 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
1.38 MB Adobe PDF

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11384/85105
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 14
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 14
social impact