Nonlinear optical properties of photoswitchable fluorescent proteins

Inge Asselberghs; Cristina Flors; Evelien De Meulenaere; Benoît Champagne; Jos Vanderleyden; Koen Clays

doi:10.1117/12.824552

20 August 2009 Nonlinear optical properties of photoswitchable fluorescent proteins

Inge Asselberghs, Cristina Flors, Evelien De Meulenaere, Benoît Champagne, Jos Vanderleyden, Koen Clays

Proceedings Volume 7403, Nanobiosystems: Processing, Characterization, and Applications II; 74030P (2009) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.824552
Event: SPIE NanoScience + Engineering, 2009, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

and enhanced GFP (eGFP), enhanced YFP (eYFP) and DsRed have been studied at both the theoretical and experimental levels. In the case of Dronpa, both approaches are consistent in showing the rather counterintuitive result of a larger second-order nonlinear polarizability (or first hyperpolarizability) for the protonated state, which has a higher transition energy, than for the deprotonated, fluorescent state with its absorption at lower energy. Moreover, the hyperpolarizability value for the protonated form of Dronpa is among the highest reported for proteins. In addition to the pH dependence, we have found wavelength dependence in the values. These properties are essential for the practical use of Dronpa or other GFP-like fluorescent proteins as second-order nonlinear fluorophores for symmetry-sensitive nonlinear microscopy imaging and as nonlinear optical sensors for electrophysiological processes. An accurate value of the first hyperpolarizability is also essential for any qualitative analysis of the nonlinear images.

Citation Download Citation

Inge Asselberghs, Cristina Flors, Evelien De Meulenaere, Benoît Champagne, Jos Vanderleyden, and Koen Clays "Nonlinear optical properties of photoswitchable fluorescent proteins", Proc. SPIE 7403, Nanobiosystems: Processing, Characterization, and Applications II, 74030P (20 August 2009); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.824552

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE