Visualization of growth signal transduction cascades in living cells with genetically encoded probes based on Förster resonance energy transfer

摘要

Fluorescence probes based on the principle of Fo¨ rster resonance energy transfer (FRET) have shedrnnew light on our understanding of signal transduction cascades. Among them, unimolecular FRETrnprobes containing fluorescence proteins are rapidly increasing in number because these geneticallyrnencoded probes can be easily loaded into living cells and allow simple acquisition of FRET images.rnWe have developed probes for small GTPases, tyrosine kinases, serine–threonine kinases andrnphosphoinositides. Images obtained with these probes have revealed that membrane protrusions suchrnas nascent lamellipodia or neurites provide an active signalling platform in the growth factorstimulatedrncells.