Genetically encoded photosensitizers are increasingly used as optogenetic tools to control cell
fate or trigger intracellular processes. A monomeric red fluorescent protein called SuperNova has been
recently developed, however, it demonstrates suboptimal characteristics in most phototoxicity-based
applications. Here, we applied directed evolution to this protein and identified SuperNova2, a protein
with S10R substitution that results in enhanced brightness, chromophore maturation and phototoxicity
in bacterial and mammalian cell cultures.Genetically encoded photosensitizers are increasingly used as optogenetic tools to control cell
fate or trigger intracellular processes. A monomeric red fluorescent protein called SuperNova has been
recently developed, however, it demonstrates suboptimal characteristics in most phototoxicity-based
applications. Here, we applied directed evolution to this protein and identified SuperNova2, a protein
with S10R substitution that results in enhanced brightness, chromophore maturation and phototoxicity
in bacterial and mammalian cell cultures.