A genetically encoded fluorescent biosensor for detecting nitroreductase activity in living cancer cells

Genetically encoded fluorescent biosensors are particularly promising sensors to examine biochemical processes in a complex cellular context. RNA mimics of GFP are RNA-fluorophore complexes that emit green fluorescence comparable in brightness to fluorescent proteins. The fluorophore is non-fluorescent until it binds with specific RNA. We designed and developed a dual activated fluorescent probe based on RNA mimics of GFP for the detection of an...