Photosensitizer KillerRed

- Genetically-encoded photosensitizer, direct expression in cells
- No exogenous chemical compounds or cofactors required
- No cell toxicity before light activation
- Induction by green light irradiation
- Successful performance in fusions
- Recommended for selective in vivo cell killing and CALI applications

Recommended antibodies, filter sets and activating lasers

KillerRed can be recognized using Anti-KillerRed antibody (Cat.# AB961-AB962) available from Evrogen.

Before light activation, KillerRed can be detected using TRITC filter set or similar. Recommended Omega Optical filter sets are QMAX-Red and XF174.

KillerRed phototoxicity is induced by green-light irradiation at 540-580 nm and depends on light intensity irradiation time and KillerRed concentration. Importantly, we recommend that you use arc-lamp irradiation. Laser-light irradiation in confocal mode is much less efficient.

In CALI, mild illumination of KillerRed-tagged protein for a limited time results in precise inactivation of this protein only. Upon more prolonged and intensive irradiation, KillerRed can be effectively used for damaging the organelles and killing the target cells. Intensity of green light and irradiation time must be individually determined for particular biological system and instrumentation.

KillerRed-mediated ROS production is accompanied by profound KillerRed photobleaching. The resulting cell events (cell fate after irradiation, effect on protein localization) can be monitored using another fluorescent reporter, for example a green fluorescent protein. We recommend that you use TurboGFP for cell and organelle, or TagGFP for protein labeling.