Genetically encoded FRET biosensors offer insight into disease mechanisms

Genetically encoded Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) biosensor offers insight into various disease mechanisms by monitoring alterations in intracellular redox potentials in real time without disrupting the cells. The biosensors involve peptide linker sequences in their reduced states and the thiol groups positioned throughout each linker sense the redox potential of the environment to form disulfide bond. Development of FRET-based biosensors for measuring oxidative stress in living cells and tissues benefit biomedical researchers to understand molecular mechanism. The increase in the acceptor fluorescence in FRET can only take place if there is a change in the efficiency of energy transfer. Fluorescence lifetime imaging coupled with FRET measurements offers various advantages over simple fluorescence intensity measurements.