Design of a highly specific and noninvasive biosensor suitable for real-time in vivo imaging of mercury (II) uptake.

摘要: Mercury is a ubiquitous pollutant that when absorbed extremely toxic to wide variety of biochemical processes. (II) strong, “invisible” poison rapidly by tissues the intestinal tract, kidneys, and liver upon ingestion. In this study, novel fluorescence-based biosensor presented allows for direct monitoring uptake distribution metal under noninvasive in vivo conditions. With introduction cysteine residue at position 205, located close proximity chromophore, green fluorescent protein (GFP) from Aequorea victoria was converted into highly specific ion. The mutant exhibits dramatic absorbance fluorescence change mercuration neutral pH. Absorbance properties with respect concentration exhibit sigmoidal binding behavior detection limit low nanomolar range. Time-resolved studies indicate rapid subsecond protein. crystal structures obtained eGFP205C possible access route core To our knowledge, engineered first example real-time imaging mercury living cell. A major advantage its expression can be genetically controlled many organisms enable unprecedented tissue uptake.