Image of the Day: Lit Up

Human embryonic kidney cells expressing three differently colored biosensors (red, yellow, and cyan). The six images show sequential time points, with activation of the sensors shown in red.

M. A. RIZZO

Scientists use fluorescent tags to study the location and movement of proteins within live cells. Now, researchers have upgraded the technique to help track multiple proteins and quantify their relative values simultaneously. By integrating optogenetics into this technique, scientists can also interfere with biochemical function and view the result in real time, according to research published in eLife on July 3. 

B.L. Ross et al., “Single-color, ratiometric biosensors for detecting signaling activities in live cells,” eLife, doi:10.7554/eLife.35458, 2018.