The importance of fluorescent proteins in the field of molecular biology cannot be understated. Recently, the team of Akiko Kumagai from the Brain Science Institute, Japan, cloned and studied the first ever vertebrate fluorescent protein form the Japanese eel (Anguilla japonica). The protein, named UnaG, is a member of the fatty-acid binding protein (FABP) family which generally regulates fat metabolism in various organs. The unique feature of this protein is that its fluorescence gets activated by binding to an activator. This activator, bilirubin, is an important compound produced by the liver and a common indicator for liver function. The authors were able to use this feature of UnaG to develop a simple and sensitive assay to measure bilirubin in human clinical samples. Not only is the discovery of UnaG of great importance in the field of biofluorescence but its discovery will also have a deep impact on clinical health care in the near future. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23768684?dopt=Abstract&holding=f1000,f1000m
Posted on: Mon, 08 Jul 2013 14:27:31 +0000
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