Phytochrome is a multidomain red-light photoreceptor that allows cells to respond to the quality and intensity of incoming light. Bacterial phytochromes adopt a deep figure-of-eight knotted polypeptide. They bind the linear tetrapyrrole biliverdin covalently via a thioether link to cysteine. Photon absorption in the native protein causes a rotation about the C15=C16 double bond of this chromophore, leading to biological signaling. We have exploited phytochrome to create fluorescent biotechnology tools. Our structure-based amino acid substitutions within the chromophore-binding pocket and miniaturization by design have led to the development of near-infrared biomarkers.

Structure-guided design of infrared fluorophores based on the sunlight-driven photoreceptor phytochrome

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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