• DOI:10.1126/science.1207339
• Corpus ID: 90387893

RNA Mimics of Green Fluorescent Protein

@article{Jaffrey2011RNAMO,
  title={RNA Mimics of Green Fluorescent Protein},
  author={Samie R. Jaffrey},
  journal={Science},
  year={2011},
  volume={333},
  pages={642 - 646}
}

• S. Jaffrey
• Published 29 July 2011
• Biology, Chemistry
• Science

Selection for RNAs that bind and activate derivatives of the green fluorescent protein fluorophore yields a wide range of useful spectral properties. Green fluorescent protein (GFP) and its derivatives have transformed the use and analysis of proteins for diverse applications. Like proteins, RNA has complex roles in cellular function and is increasingly used for various applications, but a comparable approach for fluorescently tagging RNA is lacking. Here, we describe the generation of RNA aptamers that bind fluorophores resembling the fluorophore in GFP. These RNA-fluorophore complexes create a palette that spans the visible spectrum. An RNA-fluorophore complex, termed Spinach, resembles enhanced GFP and emits a green fluorescence comparable in brightness with fluorescent proteins. Spinach is markedly resistant to photobleaching, and Spinach fusion RNAs can be imaged in living cells. These RNA mimics of GFP provide an approach for genetic encoding of fluorescent RNAs.