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Cell imaging gets colorful

Researchers have developed a new method for detecting and imaging protein-protein interactions in live cells using color changes, enabling immediate visualization of biochemical events. The FPX technique converts biochemical processes into dramatic green to red color changes.

SourceUniversity of Alberta·JournalNature Methods·DateJan 26, 2015

New infrared marker for bio-imaging

Researchers at Helmholtz Munich have created a novel fluorescent marker that excites in the far-red spectrum and emits in the infrared range, enabling better-quality images with advanced bio-imaging. This technology allows for the delineation of tumor and metastasis, tracking drug responses within whole-body imaging.

Blinking neurons give thoughts away

Researchers successfully used a specialized fluorescent protein to visualize electrical activity in living mice, allowing them to study brain function and behavior in real-time. The 'cameleon' protein enables measurement of action potentials without electrodes, providing insights into neural networks and brain circuitry.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalFrontiers in Neural Circuits·DateMay 5, 2010

Rice scientists divide and conquer

Researchers have discovered a way to visualize iron-sulfur clusters in living cells using a custom protein tag, enabling analysis of diseases involving these metalloclusters. This technique has high potential for helping find real treatments for diseases such as Friedreich's ataxia and myopathy.

SourceRice University·JournalChemistry & Biology·DateDec 28, 2009

Biomedical research profits from the exploration of the deep sea

A team of scientists has discovered a new green fluorescent protein in a deep-sea creature, which can be used as a marker in living cells and tissues. The protein, named cerFP505, has similar brightness and stability to existing fluorescent proteins, making it an ideal lead structure for super-resolution microscopy.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateNov 19, 2008

When a light goes on during thought processes

Researchers successfully optically detected individual action potentials in brain cells of mice, enabling observation of brain activity over months. This new method provides insights into neural communication and may aid in identifying early onset of neurological disorders like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature Methods·DateOct 2, 2008

Structural basis for photoswitching in fluorescent proteins brought into focus

Researchers at the University of Oregon have discovered the structural basis for photoswitching in fluorescent proteins, allowing for control over light emission. The study revealed that inserting a single oxygen atom can delay the switch-on time from five minutes to 65 hours, enabling more precise studies within cells.

SourceUniversity of Oregon·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 10, 2007

Yale researchers make cell biology quantitative

Yale researchers have developed a method to count absolute numbers of individual protein molecules inside living cells and measure their locations with high accuracy. This breakthrough addresses fundamental hurdles for studying biology quantitatively, enabling the measurement of protein concentrations in various cellular structures.

SourceYale University·JournalScience·DateOct 20, 2005

A biomolecule as a light switch

Scientists have discovered how a biomolecule can act as a light switch, revealing its potential for high-resolution microscopy and optical data storage. The protein, asFP595, switches between fluorescent and non-fluorescent states using a tiny molecular mechanism.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 29, 2005

Immune system contributes to evolution of a new fluorescent protein

Researchers used somatic hypermutation to evolve a red fluorescent protein with improved stability and color emission properties. The new protein, mPlum, was created by allowing B cells to mutate the gene at a rate of roughly a million times that of the genome. This process enabled the production of multiple mutations in a single cycle.

SourceHoward Hughes Medical Institute·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 22, 2004

Cells don festive holiday colors

Scientists have developed a range of new fluorescent proteins with unique colors, allowing them to track the effects of multiple genetic alterations in a single cell. These monomeric proteins retain fluorescent properties while being less toxic than their multimeric counterparts, enabling precise cellular analysis.

SourceHoward Hughes Medical Institute·JournalNature Biotechnology·DateDec 22, 2004

University Of California-San Francisco Researchers Report Test That Detects Prion Diseases, Illuminates Novel Findings About Infectious Prions

UCSF researchers developed a highly sensitive, rapid technique for detecting infectious prions causing prion diseases like 'mad cow' disease and Creutzfeldt-Jakob's disease. The assay reveals unique shapes of the protein strains, providing new insights into their biology.

SourceUniversity of California - San Francisco·JournalNature Medicine·DateSep 28, 1998

Surprising Protein Movement Seen In Cells

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University have made a surprising discovery about the movement of proteins within the Golgi apparatus. The enzymes, which are crucial for various cellular processes, were found to be mysteriously retained in the organelle despite their rapid movement, contradicting long-held assumptions about their function.