Expressible probes for in-vivo and live-cell imaging and sensing
One of the lingering challenges for imaging tools is to design probes that report out on changes in protein state in real-time, as they occur. The most robust methods in use currently are enzyme complementation and FRET methods using visible fluorescent proteins. These methods are difficult to implement, and of somewhat limited applicability. We are pursuing novel methods based on fluorescence that will produce more robust signal changes and allow detection of a wide variety of interactions, such as translocation, binding, and post-translational modification. These tools, since they will be designed to work in living cells, can be used in systems ranging from simple biochemical assays to complex experiments in living animals.
