BenzoHTag, a fluorogenic self-labeling protein developed using molecular evolution (Updated April 2, 2024).

A preprint abstract from biorxiv.org discusses the development of a new self-labeling protein called BenzoHTag, which allows for precise cellular localization of synthetic molecules in live cells. The researchers used molecular evolution to improve the reaction rates of the protein with different substrates, resulting in improved brightness and conjugation kinetics. The BenzoHTag-benzothiadiazole system showed better performance in live-cell assays compared to existing systems, including faster saturation of intracellular enzymes and robust labeling at low dye concentrations. This new method has potential applications in chemical biology and drug development. However, it is important to note that this preprint has not yet undergone peer review. [Extracted from the article]