Licensing opportunities: photosensitizer KillerRed

- Light-induced production of reactive oxygen species
- Direct expression in cells, easy targeting to various subcellular compartments
- No exogenous chemical compounds required
- Not toxic before activation by green light irradiation
- Recommended for selective light-induced protein inactivation and cell killing

Photosensitizers are chromophores that generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) upon light irradiation. Red fluorescent protein KillerRed is the first genetically-encoded photosensitizer [Bulina et al., 2006]. Unlike chemical analogs, KillerRed can be directly expressed by target cells, both individually and in fusion with a target protein. It shows no cell toxic effects before light activation. Upon green-light irradiation, KillerRed generates ROS that damage the neighboring molecules. KillerRed can be used for precise inactivation of selected proteins in chromophore-assisted light inactivation (CALI) technique and for in vivo light-induced cell killing, for example in photodynamic therapy.

Evrogen technology embodied in KillerRed proteins is available for commercial use through an adaptable licensing program. The licensing options may include development of novel products and applications.

Evaluation of the technologies is easily available by purchase of the related research use product. Please see "Notice to Purchaser" section for the product of your interest for details.

To facilitate evaluation of Evrogen fluorescent protein technology we offer custom assay development services including making fuses with the proteins of interest with following testing in cells (localization or translocation).

For license information please contact Evrogen by e-mail at license@evrogen.com.