Photoswitchable/photoconvertible fluorescent proteins (FP) normally emit within the green light region. Synthetic dyes offer far-red/near IR emissions but have very small Stokes shifts. Herein we describe a photoswitchable near-IR emitting fluoroprobe based on a protein-synthetic dye complex. This complex has two distinctive “Blue” and “Red” emissive states which are interconvertible by violet and red lights. As compared to currently commercialized NIR fluorescent proteins, our complex has similar or improved emission wavelength and brightness with a huge Stokes shift, and good photoswitching fatigue resistance in solution. We demonstrate that the complex can be used to selectively label subcellular compartments in live cells.

Reversibly photoswitchable fluorescent tag for no-wash live-cell imaging

251st National Meeting (2016)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.