A Rapid and Simple Method of Evaluating the Dimeric Tendency of Fluorescent Proteins in Living Cells Using a Truncated Protein of Importin α as Fusion Tag

抄録

Enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) and its yellow variant (Venus) are weakly dimeric under physiological conditions. We designed a simple method to evaluate the dimeric tendency of fluorescent proteins in living mammalian cells. A novel single mutation, A206L, interfering with the hydrophobic interactions of the dimer interface in Venus, contributed to its monomerization, and was as effective as the A206K mutation in this assay.