Enzyme-Fluorescent Protein Fusion for Cellular Imaging

CD Biosynsis is a leading expert in the field of enzyme design and evolution, with a long and in-depth experience in enzyme directed evolution. Our professional research team aims to combine the catalytic structural domains of different enzymes through enzyme fusion design to alter enzyme functions and provide valuable insights for the rational design of enzymes with improved properties or novel functions.

Overview

Subcellular localization refers to the precise location of proteins or gene expression products within a cell. Proteins exhibit diverse distributions across various cellular regions, and examining the subcellular localization of proteins proves beneficial in the initial assessment of studies on protein function. The fusion of enzymes with fluorescent proteins, known as enzyme-fluorescent protein fusion, emerges as a potent tool for cellular imaging. Researchers can leverage this technology to delve into the whereabouts, dynamics, and activity of specific enzymes within living cells. By amalgamating the specificity of enzymes with the visual detection capabilities of fluorescent proteins, this innovative approach facilitates real-time monitoring of cellular processes.

Fig. 1 Fusions of the protein kinase C regulatory and catalytic moieties are detected in a multitude of cancers. (Van A.N., et al., 2021)

Applications of Enzyme-Fluorescent Protein Fusion

• Subcellular Localization
  Researchers can study where specific enzymes are located within cells using this strategy. For example, fusing a kinase enzyme with a fluorescent protein allows the observation of its distribution in the cytoplasm or nucleus.
• Dynamics and Mobility
  This fusion protein can be used to track enzyme movement and dynamics at real time, which is especially useful for understanding dynamic cellular processes such as signal transduction.
• Enzyme Activity
  It can determine enzyme activity changes through detecting changes in fluorescence intensity within the cell.
• Protein-Protein Interactions
  This technology can be applied to study protein-protein interactions through observing the colocalization of the fusion proteins.
• Drug Screening
  This technology also can be used in drug screening assays to identify compounds that modulate the activity or localization of specific enzymes.

CD Biosynsis strives to provide comprehensive and reliable enzyme fusion design services for a variety of applications. Contact us now to learn more about our enzyme fusion design services and how they can benefit your research or development program. Our team is ready to assist you and provide the insights that you need to achieve your goals.

Reference

1. Van, A.N.; et al. Protein kinase C fusion proteins are paradoxically loss of function in cancer. J Biol Chem. 2021, 296:100445.