Model structure of GFP with de novo design calcium binding sites.

Developing Calcium and Proteinase Sensors

The goal of this project is to develop fluorescent sensors for monitoring calcium signaling and proteinase activity in subcellular compartments both in vivo and in vitro . Near IR dyes have been developed for detecting a series of metal ions.   More importantly, a novel class of calcium sensors without using natural trigger calcium binding proteins and FRET pairs has been created for cell imaging high calcium concentrations.    In addition, we have created sensors for several classes of proteinases, such as trypsin, chymotrypsin, thrombin and caspases, for real-time imaging of enzymatic activity in live cells and disease tissues.   These developed probes will have wide applicability in studies of human diseases including various cardiomyopathies, Alzheimer's Disease, cancer, and lens cataract formation that are known to be associated with altered Ca(II) signaling and protease activation/inhibition.

Our publications in regard to Ca(II) and proteinase sensors are shown below:

April L Ellis, Wei Yang, Yiming Ye, Jenny J. Yang. Calcium binding green fluorescent protein by design. Biochemistry, Submitted.

Jin Zou, Yiming Ye, Kristy Welshhans, Monica Lurtz, April L Ellis, Charles Louis, Vincent Rehder, and Jenny J Yang. Expression and Optical Properties of Green Gluorenscent Protein Expressed in Different Cellular Environments. Journal of Biotechology (2005), 119, 368-378.