Reversible Single-Molecule Photoswitching in the GFP-Like Fluorescent Protein Dronpa  

Satoshi Habuchi, Ryoko Ando, Wendy Verheijen, Hideaki Mizuno, Atsushi Miyawaki, and Johan Hofkens^¶

We are working on a photochromic protein, called Dronpa (PDF) in a collaboration with Prof Miyawaki, Riken, Japan. Dronpa has unique properties: it is the first truly photochromic protein that can be photoswitched fast and reversible. More details coming soon

 a) Bulk photo- switching of Dronpa with alternating 488 nm and 400 nm light b) Single molecule switching of Dronpa by simultaneous excitation with 488 nm and modulated 400 nm light. Note the extreme efficient photo-switching in both cases.