Highly sensitive fluorescent protein FRET detection using optofluidic lasers

Abstract

We achieved optofluidic protein lasing using genetically encoded fluorescent protein FRET pairs linked by length-tunable peptides. Up to 25-fold reduction in the donor laser emission was observed when the donor and the acceptor were brought to close proximity, as compared to only 17% reduction in the donor emission using the conventional FRET detection. Our work opens a door to a broad range of applications in studying protein-protein interactions and protein-drug interactions.