Russian scientists have created a new phototoxic protein SuperNova2

Phototoxic proteins are an important research tool and are used as genetically

encoded photosensitizers for the generation of reactive oxygen species under the influence of light radiation.Unlike  conventional chemical photosensitizers, phototoxic proteins are genetically encoded and expressed by the cell itself, allowing them to   Thanks to the reactive oxygen species produced by light, phototoxic proteins canCreating highly localized oxidative stress, such as disrupting a selected population of cells or disabling target proteins , is a function that is particularly in demand when modeling cellular processes.

Single mutation S10R with serine substitution in position10 on arginine (highlighted in blue on the protein structure on the left), despite its removal from the chromophore (highlighted in raspberry), led to an improvement in the properties of the phototoxic fluorescent proteins KillerRed and SuperNova. Photo: Skoltech

The first phototoxic protein, KillerRed, was described by a group of Russian researchers led by Konstantin Lukyanov, a professor at Skoltech's Center for Life Sciences (CLS), in 2006 .KillerRed has been further refined by Japanese scientists and renamed SuperNova.In their recent study, Prof. Lukyanov's team has developed SuperNova2, an improved version of SuperNova that demonstrateshigh speed and completeness of maturation and is monomeric, which makes the new protein easy to use and   suitable for a wide range of molecular biology tasks.

"We hope that the genetically encoded photosensitizer SuperNova2 will find application in a wide range of experimental models," he saidProfessor Lukyanov.

Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology(Skoltech) is a private research university with higher education. Skoltech, founded in 2011 in collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), trains world leaders in innovation, advances scientific knowledge and develops new technologies aimed at solving the most important problems facing Russia and the world. Skoltech conducts its work by integrating the best experience of leading Russian and foreign educational and research universities. The university also specializes in entrepreneurship and innovation education.

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