asCP, the unique green fluorescent protein-like nonfluorescent chromoprotein from the sea anemone Anemonia sulcata, becomes fluorescent ("kindles") upon green light irradiation, with maximum emission at 595 nm. The kindled protein then relaxes to a nonfluorescent state or can be "quenched" instantly by blue light irradiation. In this work, we used asCP mutants to investigate the mechanism underlying kindling. Using site-directed mutagenesis we showed that amino acids spatially surrounding Tyr 66 in the chromophore are crucial for kindling. We propose a model of the kindling mechanism, in which the key event is chromophore turning or cis-trans isomerization. Using site-directed mutagenesis we also managed to transfer the kindling property to the two other coral chromoproteins. Remarkably, most kindling mutants were capable of both reversible and irreversible kindling. Also, we obtained novel variants that kindled upon blue light irradiation. The diversity of photoactivated fluorescent proteins that can be developed by site-directed mutagenesis is promising for biotechnological needs.Recently a GFP-like 1 chromoprotein from the sea anemone Anemonia sulcata was discovered (1). This protein, named asCP, absorbs light effectively, with a maximum at 568 nm, and causes purple coloration of anemone tentacle tips. Initially nonfluorescent, asCP becomes fluorescent (kindles) in response to intense green light irradiation, with an excitation maximum at 575 nm and an emission maximum at 595 nm. The protein then relaxes back to its initial nonfluorescent state, or it can be quenched instantly by short blue light irradiation. Both kindling in green light and quenching in blue light are reversible processes for the wild-type protein. The nature of these striking changes remains unclear; here we propose an explanation based on the wild-type and mutant asCP properties. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURESCloning, Expression, and Mutagenesis-For heterologous expression of proteins, full-length coding regions were cloned into the pQE30 vector (Qiagen). Proteins fused to an N-terminal 6xHis tag were expressed in Escherichia coli and purified using the Talon metal affinity resin (Clontech). Site-directed mutagenesis was performed by overlap extension PCR with primers containing the appropriate target substitutions (2).Screening-Screening of E. coli colonies expressing mutant proteins was performed using a Nikon Optiphot fluorescent microscope and an Olympus US SZX12 fluorescent stereo microscope. Photographs were made using an Olympus DP50 camera.Spectroscopy-Absorption spectra were recorded on a Beckman DU520 UV/VIS spectrophotometer. A Varian Cary eclipse fluorescence spectrophotometer was used to measure excitation-emission spectra and as a light source to determine the action spectrum for the quenching of asCP-A148G mutant. The following external light sources were used: 458 nm (Ar-ion laser line), 430 -490 nm (fluorescent microscope filter), 460 -490 nm (fluorescent microscope filter), 514 nm (Ar-ion laser line), 532 nm (Nd laser line), 543...

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Proteins of the GFP (green fluorescent protein) family demonstrate a great spectral and phylogenetic diversity. However, there is still an intense demand for red-shifted GFP-like proteins in both basic and applied science. To obtain GFP-like chromoproteins with red-shifted absorption, we performed a broad search in blue-coloured Anthozoa species. We revealed specimens of Actinia equina (beadlet anemone) exhibiting a bright blue circle band at the edge of the basal disc. A novel blue chromoprotein, aeCP597, with an absorption maximum at 597 nm determining the coloration of the anemone basal disk was cloned. AeCP597 carries a chromophore chemically identical with that of the well-studied DsRed (red fluorescent protein from Discosoma sp.). Thus a strong 42-nm bathochromic shift of aeCP597 absorption compared with DsRed is determined by peculiarities of chromophore environment. Site-directed and random mutagenesis of aeCP597 resulted in far-red fluorescent mutants with emission maxima at up to 663 nm. The most bright and stable mutant AQ143 possessed excitation and emission maxima at 595 and 655 nm respectively. Thus aeCP597 and its fluorescent mutants set a new record of red-shifted absorption and emission maxima among GFP-like proteins.

Aptamers based on nucleic acids are a promising alternative to antibodies in therapy and diagnostics. Several DNA aptamers against human thrombin have been developed by selection from random libraries: a 15-mer and its derivatives, a 29-mer, and a 31-mer. Some of them are patented and already under clinical trial. The 15-mer structure was determined by X-ray and NMR and turned out to be a monomolecular antiparallel G-quadruplex. The other aptamers mentioned above have higher inhibitory activity than the initial 15-mer, but there are not yet structural data explaining this phenomenon. Here, the initial 15-mer, 31-mer, and novel RA-36 aptamers are compared to establish the structure-function correlation, providing a solid ground for further rational aptameric drug design. For the molecular dynamic simulation of aptamers, the force field parmbsc0 was ported onto GROMACS, and the main stabilizing parameters were revealed, leading to the novel DNA aptamer RA-36. The functional properties of the DNA aptamers were studied by conventional coagulation tests, which do not directly elucidate the mechanism of thrombin inhibition by aptamers. Improved turbidimetric measurements provided data to develop detailed kinetics showing that the 31-mer and RA-36, in contrast to the 15-mer, are competitive inhibitors. These data revealed RA-36 to be an efficient thrombin inhibitor with a dose-dependent effect. Animal tests of the studied DNA aptamers suggested an unexpected species-specificity of the novel RA-36.

Background Within the family of green fluorescent protein (GFP) homologs, one can mark two main groups, specifically, fluorescent proteins (FPs) and non-fluorescent or chromoproteins (CPs). Structural background of differences between FPs and CPs are poorly understood to date. Results Here, we applied site-directed and random mutagenesis in order to to transform CP into FP and vice versa . A purple chromoprotein asCP (asFP595) from Anemonia sulcata and a red fluorescent protein DsRed from Discosoma sp. were selected as representatives of CPs and FPs, respectively. For asCP, some substitutions at positions 148 and 165 (numbering in accordance to GFP) were found to dramatically increase quantum yield of red fluorescence. For DsRed, substitutions at positions 148, 165, 167, and 203 significantly decreased fluorescence intensity, so that the spectral characteristics of these mutants became more close to those of CPs. Finally, a practically non-fluorescent mutant DsRed-NF was generated. This mutant carried four amino acid substitutions, specifically, S148C, I165N, K167M, and S203A. DsRed-NF possessed a high extinction coefficient and an extremely low quantum yield (< 0.001). These spectral characteristics allow one to regard DsRed-NF as a true chromoprotein. Conclusions We located a novel point in asCP sequence (position 165) mutations at which can result in red fluorescence appearance. Probably, this finding could be applied onto other CPs to generate red and far-red fluorescent mutants. A possibility to transform an FP into CP was demonstrated. Key role of residues adjacent to chromophore's phenolic ring in fluorescent/non-fluorescent states determination was revealed.