A second generation screening system for fluorescence-guided protein engineering

蛋白质是令人惊讶的多功能分子机器，它执行维持生命所必需的多种功能。由于它们能够折叠成特定和复杂的三维结构，蛋白质可以具有一系列显著的功能和特性。这种多样性的蛋白质例子包括蜘蛛丝蛋白，萤火虫的发光蛋白质，细胞分裂前忠实复制DNA的蛋白质，以及形成人眼晶状体的蛋白质。与蛋白质相关的自然功能的范围和多样性启发了这个研究小组设计具有非自然但非常有用的功能的蛋白质。具体地说，我们设计蛋白质来创造新的工具来可视化活细胞的生物化学。

Proteins are the amazingly versatile molecular machines that perform the multitude of functions necessary for sustaining life. Due to their ability to fold into specific and intricate 3-dimensional structures, proteins can have a remarkable range of functions and properties. Examples of proteins that exemplify this diversity include spider silk protein, the light-generating protein of fireflies, the protein that faithfully replicates DNA prior to cell division, and the protein that forms the lens of a human eye. The range and diversity of natural functions associated with proteins has inspired this research group to engineer proteins with unnatural, but eminently useful, functions. Specifically, we engineer proteins to create new tools for visualizing the biochemistry of living cells.