Cell releases a technological leap: enabling scientists to study how proteins in cells change shape

Understanding how proteins bend, twist, and deform in cells is very important for understanding normal biology and disease

"This is the first time a technology has been developed, and I think it may have a very big impact," said Dr.

Shoot very small things

This new method solves a basic problem that many molecules in living cells cannot be directly and accurately observed with ordinary optical microscopes

A technology called FRET can embed label pairs in the target protein, and their light will change as the protein conformation changes

The new Binder-tag method "tags" the inserted small molecule protein using a separate molecular binding tag (the tag contains the protein and needs a certain shape or structure), such as the protein when it actively helps the cell perform a specific function

The method is suitable for a wide range of tags, and Hahn says that Binder-tags can even be used to make FRET sensors more easily

According to Hahn, this is a powerful technique that, in principle, can handle a wide range of protein dynamics studies, including the study of proteins that are rarely found in cells

In a paper published in Cell, the research team discussed several proofs of principle

Hahn said: "Through this method, we can see, for example, how differences in the microenvironment between cells affect the activity of proteins, and often have far-reaching effects

Now, researchers are using this technology to draw dynamic maps of other important proteins

Scientists envision that Binder-tag will eventually become a basic technology for studying normal proteins, larger multi-molecular structures in cells, and even dysfunctional proteins related to Alzheimer's disease

"For many protein-related diseases, scientists still can't understand why proteins start to do the wrong thing

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Biosensors based on peptide exposure show single molecule conformations in live cells

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