Green Fluorescence Protein Chromophores Meet the Meta-Amino Effect: Fluorescence Turn-On and Beyond
Journal
ChemPhotoChem
Journal Volume
10
Journal Issue
8
ISSN
2367-0932
2367-0932
Date Issued
2026-07-30
Author(s)
Chiu, Chun‐Wei
Abstract
Achieving fluorescence activation of green fluorescence protein (GFP) chromophores in solution under ambient conditions has been a long-standing challenge in organic photochemistry. In this context, the meta-amino substituent effect, originally recognized for promoting fluorescence in stilbenes, has been identified as a powerful design principle for enhancing emissive properties of GFP chromophores. Beyond fluorescence turn-on, m-amino-substituted GFP chromophores exhibit distinctive photophysical characteristics, including pronounced solvatofluorochromism and atypical excited-state deactivation pathways in both protic and polar aprotic solvents. These unique features have enabled their development as environmentally sensitive fluorescent probes and wash-free cell-imaging dyes. This review concisely summarizes key advances in this area over the past 2 decades.
Publisher
Wiley
Type
journal article