Nature Biotechnology pp 1473 - 1479

Scientists have come up with a way of making biological imaging and detection simpler and faster. Nowadays, the analysis of proteins and other biological compounds in routine laboratory tests relies on the specific recognition of the target by antibodies and the subsequent detection of the antibodies with fluorescence emitting molecules. In the December issue of Nature Biotechnology, Andrew Bradbury and colleagues demonstrate the versatility of 'fluorobodies', a new class of hybrid proteins that combine parts of an antibody with green fluorescent protein (GFP), one of the most commonly used imaging molecules in biology.

Through the clever substitution of several exposed loops on the GFP backbone with antibody regions that specifically bind to targets, the authors generate a fluorobody that retains the fluorescent characteristics of GFP while also being able to function as an antibody. The net result is a simplification of the detection process and potential improvement in detection sensitivity.

Given the recent growth in number of alternative fluorescent proteins providing a rainbow of possibilities for multicolor detection, fluorobodies promise to become an invaluable tool in the laboratory.