分子生物传感器与细胞内分子影像

分子生物传感器是由生物大分子通过基因重组或DNA合成所构成的传感器,能够实时、可视化探测活细胞及活体内关键分子事件。目前研究热度高、应用广的分子生物传感器包括分子信标(MB)、共振能量转移系统(荧光共振能量转移和生物发光共振能量转移)和分子荧光互补系统(如双分子荧光互补、三分子荧光互补等)。文章介绍了这几类分子生物传感器的原理和特点,重点强调了它们在活细胞分子影像学中的运用,如:研究细胞内蛋白之间的相互作用,探索生物大分子在细胞中的定位、运动和动力学等。此外,还讨论了分子生物传感器的局限性和面临的挑战,并展望了未来发展方向。"眼见为实",分子生物传感器在这方面发挥独特的作用,它使我们前所未有地深入到细胞内部去观察生物分子事件乃至生物学过程,从而解答更多的生物学难题。

Molecular Biosensors and Molecular Imaging in Cells

Molecular sensors are the biosensors made of macrobiomolecules. They are significant tools for real-time imaging of the molecular events in living cells and in vivo. Molecular beacons (MB), fluorescence/bioluminescence resonance energy transfer sensors (FRET/BRET) and molecular fluorescence complementation systems (BiFC, TriFC, etc.) are major types of molecular biosensors for live cell imaging applications. In this paper, the principles and characteristics of the molecular biosensors are described. The biosensors show their unique role in study of biomolecular interactions, localization, movement, and kinetics in living cells. The restrains, challenges, and future prospects of the molecular biosensors are also discussed. Because "Seeing is believing", the molecule biosensors enable us to see the biological process with super high spatio-temporal resolution, and thus to answer the fundamental biological questions.