Protein molecules in cells function as miniature antennas

(Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences (IOCB Prague)) Researchers led by Josef Lazar from IOCB Prague have demonstrated that molecules of fluorescent proteins act as antennas with optical properties (i.e. the ability to absorb and emit light) dependent on their spatial orientation. First discovered in jellyfish, fluorescent proteins are nowadays widely used in studies of molecular processes in living cells and organisms. The newly described properties of these molecules will find applications in basic biological research as well as in novel drug discovery.
Source: EurekAlert! - Biology - Category: Biology Source Type: news