Easily deliver bright fluorescent proteins to your target cells

Ready-to-use lentiviral particles for fluorescent cell labeling

Labeling cells with fluorescent proteins—either for general cell marking or labeling specific subcellular structures—can be hindered by difficulties with gene delivery or an inability to obtain adequate fluorescent protein expression.

Our high-quality, ready-to-use lentiviral particles can be used to deliver and express ultra-bright fluorescent protein variants to virtually any human cell type—even those that are resistant to traditional methods of gene delivery (e.g., non-proliferating cells, stem cells, and terminally differentiated cells). These particles result in long-term, constitutive expression of untargeted, cytoskeleton-targeted, or organelle-targeted fluorescent proteins, generating cells that are suitable for:

• Investigating protein localization
• Monitoring protein trafficking
• Tracking cells in real time
• Studying organelle dynamics and morphology

Delivery of fluorescent proteins targeted to specific subcellular locations

Organelles

Structure	Examples (click to view larger size)	Targeting protein/tag	Fluorescent protein options*
Golgi apparatus		N-terminal 81 amino acids of human β 1,4-galactosyl- transferase, which contains a membrane-anchoring signal peptide (localizes to the transmedial region)	AcGFP1, mCherry
Nucleus		Three tandem repeats of the SV40 large T-antigen nuclear localization signal	AcGFP1, mCherry
Endoplasmic reticulum		Targeting sequence of calreticulin; KDEL retrieval sequence	mCherry
Mitochondria		Targeting sequence from subunit VII of cytochrome c oxidase	AcGFP1, mCherry
Endosomes		RhoB GTPase (localizes to the surface of vesicles of the endocytic pathway)	AcGFP1
Plasma membrane		N-terminal 20 amino acids of neuromodulin, which contains a palmitolylation signal	AcGFP1, mCherry

Cytoskeleton

Structure	Examples (click to view larger size)	Targeting protein/tag	Fluorescent protein options*
Actin		Human β-actin	AcGFP1, mCherry
Tubulin		Human α-tubulin	AcGFP1, mCherry

*AcGFP1 and mCherry proteins are truly monomeric fluorescent proteins that are ideal fusion tags. AcGFP1 protein is very stable, allowing visualization over an extended period of time. mCherry protein is highly photostable and resistant to photobleaching. The distinct spectra of these fluorescent proteins allow them to be used in double-labeling experiments.

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Delivery of untargeted fluorescent proteins

Fluorescent protein	Examples (click to view larger size)	Excitation/emission maxima (nm)	Brightness (relative to GFP)
tdTomato		554/581	591%
mCherry		587/610	88%
ZsGreen1		493/505	243%
ZsYellow1		529/539	81%
AmCyan1		458/489	182%

*The majority of fluorescent protein will be present in the cytoplasm.

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Takara Bio's Living Colors fluorescent proteins

Living Colors fluorescent proteins are detectable without added cofactors or substrates and can be detected directly by fluorescence microscopy. The fluorescent proteins (alone and fusions) do not compromise cell structure or interfere with cellular physiology, making them ideal tools for visualizing living cells.