Local Electric Field Controls Fluorescence Quantum Yield of Red and Far-Red Fluorescent Proteins.

ABSTRACT: Genetically encoded probes with red-shifted absorption and fluorescence are highly desirable for imaging applications because they can report from deeper tissue layers with lower background and because they provide additional colors for multicolor imaging. Unfortunately, red and especially far-red fluorescent proteins have very low quantum yields, which undermines their other advantages. Elucidating the mechanism of nonradiative relaxation in red fluorescent proteins (RFPs) could help developing ones with higher quantum yields. Here we consider two possible mechanisms of fast nonradiative relaxation of electronic excitation in RFPs. The first, known as the energy gap law, predicts a steep exponential drop of fluorescence quantum yield with a systematic red shift of fluorescence frequency.

SUBMITTER: Drobizhev M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7983054 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature