Unnatural Amino Acid Mutagenesis with Fluorescent Amino Acids

描述(申请人提供)：细胞成像和生物物理技术已成为基础生物医学研究不可或缺的组成部分。这些实验方法使研究人员能够从整体上剖析与细胞生物学相关的动态生物路径，事实证明，它们在阐明疾病细胞的分子机制方面特别有用，例如在癌症中发现的那些细胞。为了帮助更好地研究这些生物过程，我们的目标是开发一种用于活细胞成像和生物物理应用的小型、遗传编码的高质量荧光标记。我们将把基于结构的设计与精确的生化分析结合起来，以确定与细胞机械兼容的探针。将采取进一步的措施，在活的真核细胞和哺乳动物细胞中评估和实施这些探针。如果成功，这项技术将提供一种替代目前主导该领域的荧光蛋白的方法，用于一系列成像和生物物理应用。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Cell-imaging and biophysical techniques have become integral components of basic biomedical research. These experimental approaches enable researchers to dissect dynamic biological pathways relevant to cell biology as a whole, and they have proven especially useful in elucidating the molecular mechanisms of diseased cells, such as those found in cancer. To help better examine these biological processes, we aim to develop a small, genetically encoded, high quality fluorescent tag for use in live-cell imaging and biophysical applications. We will combine structure-based design with precise biochemical analysis to identify probes that are compatible with the cellular machinery. Further steps will be taken to evaluate and implement the probes in living eukaryotic and mammalian cells. If successful, this technology would provide an alternative to the fluorescent proteins, which currently dominate the field, for a range of imaging and biophysical applications.