Selection Guide: Fluorescent Proteins

Use the list below to choose the best fluorescent protein vector for your experiment based on color/application or name. Click on the name to visit the product page for more information.

Choose by color:
 
Color
Cyan Fluorescent Protein
AmCyan1 458/489 182% C.T. 42001 & 41014
Green Fluorescent Protein
AcGFP1 475/505 166% C.T. 42002 & 41017
ZsGreen1 493/505 243% C.T. 42002 & 41017
Yellow Fluorescent Protein
ZsYellow1 529/539 81% C.T. 42003 & 41028
mBanana 540/553 26% C.T. 42003 & 41028
Orange Fluorescent Protein
mOrange2 549/565 216% C.T. 49010
Red Fluorescent Protein
DsRed-Express2 554/591 93% C.T. 41002c & 42005
DsRed-Express 554/586 92% C.T. 41002c & 42005
tdTomato 554/581 591% C.T. 41002c & 42005
DsRed-Monomer 557/592 24% C.T. 41002c & 42005
DsRed2 563/582 150% C.T. 41002c & 42005
AsRed2 576/592 80% C.T. 42004 & 42005
mStrawberry 574/596 162% C.T. 42004 & 42005
mCherry 587/610 98% C.T. 49008; Omega XF102-2
Far-Red Fluorescent Protein
HcRed1 588/618 4% C.T. 41043; Omega XF102-2
mRaspberry 598/625 80% C.T. 41043
E2-Crimson 611/646 180% C.T. 41019
mPlum 590/649 25% C.T. 41043
Switchable Fluorescent Proteins
Dendra 2
(converted) 		490/507
(553/573) 		140%
(120%) 		C.T. 42002 & 41017
(C.T. 41002c & 42005)
Timer
(converted)		 483/500
(558/583) 		NA
NA 		C.T. 42002 & 41017
(C.T. 41002c & 42005)
PAmCherry
(activated) 		404/NA
(564/595) 		NA
(51%) 		NA
(C.T. 49008)
Choose by application:
 
Application
Bacterial Expression
Fluorescent protein vectors for bacterial expression We offer a variety of fluorescent protein vectors for bacterial expression. Fluorescent protein expression in these vectors is driven by the lac promoter.
Cell Capture & Enrichment
Capture and analyze cells with CherryPicker systems CherryPicker Systems use a membrane-targeted red fluorescent protein to identify your cells of interest. These cells can be captured using our specially-formulated magnetic beads and regrown into a more homogenous population in <2 hr.
Cell Cycle Reporters
Monitor cell cycle progression with FUCCI vectors Fucci cell cycle reporter vectors deliver fluorescent, ubiquitination-based cell-cycle indicators that allow you to identify cells in various phases of the cell cycle. Fucci vectors contain Cdt1 or Geminin, proteins whose levels fluctuate differently throughout the cell cycle, plus a red or cyan fluorescent tag.
Cell Labeling
Label cells with bright fluorescent proteins Bright colors are ideal for cell labeling and imaging.
Fusions
mCherry fusion constructs Monomeric fluorescent proteins are often ideal for fusions as they tend to be least disruptive to protein function. In many cases, oligomers can also be effective choices. We offer N- & C-terminal vectors.
FRET
FRET images of cells expressing AcGFP1 and mCherry Detecting protein-protein interactions requires a good (high efficiency) FRET pair: a donor with a high quantum yield (QD) and an acceptor with a high Förster Radius (R0). These pairs have been reported to be suitable for FRET in the literature.
In Vivo Imaging
tdTomato detected in a SCID mouse Far red and red fluorescent proteins are preferred for in vivo imaging because they avoid the natural green autofluorescence produced by plants and animals; however, bright green proteins have also been used successfully.
Kinetic Studies
Destabilized fluorescent protein vectors Destabilized fluorescent proteins, specifically engineered for rapid turnover rates.
Measuring Proteasome Activity
Fluorescent reporter for proteasome activity Our Proteasome Sensor Vector is ideal for image-based assays for compounds with proteasome inhibiting or activating properties.
MicroRNA Expression
Cells transfected with pmR-mCherry coexpress your miRNA These vectors provide strong miRNA expression and allow you to verify and track that expression with a fluorescent protein marker. The pmR-mCherry and pmR-ZsGreen1 vectors couple your miRNA expression cassette to a bright red or green reporter, for miRNA expression you can see and select.
Photoactivation
Photoactivatable mCherry in mitochondria Photoactivatable fluorescent proteins are particularly useful for determining protein half-life and protein transport pathways, because molecules synthesized after activation are not able to fluoresce. Therefore, what you observe is a snapshot of the protein molecules that were present at the time of activation.
Photoconversion
Green-to-red photoconversion of Dendra2 in HeLa cells Dendra2 is a photoswitchable (green to red), monomeric fluorescent protein derived from octocoral Dendronephthya sp. Irreversible switching from green to red is activated by UV-violet or blue light.
Promoter Reporters
Monitor transcription from different promoters Bright fluorescent proteins make excellent reporters. Monitor the activation of different promoters or promoter/enhancer combinations using traditional promoterless reporter constructs or next-generation, on-demand reporters, which use ProteoTuner technology to provide extremely low background and bright signals.
Stem Cell Applications
Stem cells expressing EF1 alpha-AcGFP1 Fluorescently labeled stem cells can be used to analyze features and behaviors, and to monitor events including interactions with adjacent cells with precise spatial and temporal resolution. EF-1 alpha promoter vectors are useful in embryonic stem cells, where the CMV promoter has diminished activity.
Subcellular Labelling
Fluorescent mitochondria and nucleus in HEK 293 cells Our subcellular labeling vectors allow you to target a wide range of structures, including actin, cytoskeleton, endosomes, ER, golgi apparatus, mitochondria, nucleus, peroxisomes, and the plasma membrane.
Timed Gene Expression
Monitor changes in promoter activity over time Our pTimer fluorescent protein shifts from green to red over time so you can visualize the time frame of promoter activity.
Visualizing Gene Expression
IRES vectors express two proteins from one RNA IRES (bicistronic) vectors permit your gene of interest and a fluorescent protein to be independently translated from a single RNA transcript. Good for monitoring transfection efficiency or gene expression.