Using mRNA sequencing and de novo transcriptome assembly, we identified, cloned, and characterized 9 previously undiscovered fluorescent protein (FP) homologs from Aequorea victoria and a related Aequorea species, with most sequences highly divergent from A. victoria green fluorescent protein (avGFP). Among these FPs are the brightest green fluorescent protein (GFP) homolog yet characterized and a reversibly photochromic FP that responds to UV and blue light. Beyond green emitters, Aequorea species express purple- and blue-pigmented chromoproteins (CPs) with absorbances ranging from green to far-red, including 2 that are photoconvertible. X-ray crystallography revealed that Aequorea CPs contain a chemically novel chromophore with an unexpected crosslink to the main polypeptide chain. Because of the unique attributes of several of these newly discovered FPs, we expect that Aequorea will, once again, give rise to an entirely new generation of useful probes for bioimaging and biosensing.

使用 mRNA 测序和从头转录组组装，我们鉴定、克隆并表征了来自维多利亚水母和相关水母物种的 9 个先前未发现的荧光蛋白 (FP) 同源物，其中大多数序列与水母高度不同。维多利亚绿荧光蛋白（avGFP）。这些 FP 包括迄今为止已表征的最亮的绿色荧光蛋白 (GFP) 同系物，以及对紫外线和蓝光做出响应的可逆光致变色 FP。除了绿色发射体之外，水母还表达紫色和蓝色色素蛋白 (CP)，其吸光度范围从绿色到远红色，其中包括 2 种可光转换的。 X 射线晶体学显示，水母CP 含有化学上新颖的发色团，与主多肽链具有意想不到的交联。由于这些新发现的 FP 的独特属性，我们预计Aequorea将再次产生全新一代用于生物成像和生物传感的有用探针。