[Kikko]

The maturation of a flurorophore is a complete chemical system if I understand it correct?
Or are there any enzymes involved in this maturation process?

[Arkcon]

Insufficient context for a meaningful reply.

You're going to have to define maturation of a fluorophore., for starters.  Because that's a term I don't understand.  What the fluorophore in question actually is, and what biochemical molecule its a part of, will also help..

[Kikko]

Insufficient context for a meaningful reply.

You're going to have to define maturation of a fluorophore., for starters.  Because that's a term I don't understand.  What the fluorophore in question actually is, and what biochemical molecule its a part of, will also help..

I mean, for example, GFP (green fluorescent protein).
It matures in the cells, but I wonder if its a pure chemical process or whether their are also enzymes involved? I don't think that there are enzymes involved in it.

Not sure what other term there is... in literature I just find "maturation" of the fluorophore.

[Corribus]

Helpful?

http://www.olympusfluoview.com/java/fpfluorophores/

[Kikko]

Helpful?

http://www.olympusfluoview.com/java/fpfluorophores/

I know this website.... its the best I could find, but it does not really specify if its a complete chemical process or that enzymes are involved. Based on what I read on that website, I think its purely chemical... but not 100% sure.

[Babcock_Hall]

The process may be accelerated by the protein itself.  "The prolific use of green fluorescent protein and its variants throughout cellular biology relies on the post-translational formation of the chromophore, which proceeds without the need for any additional enzymes or cofactors, except molecular oxygen."

Chem Soc Rev. 2009 Oct;38(10):2865-75. doi: 10.1039/b903641p. Epub 2009 Aug 26.
Green fluorescent protein: structure, folding and chromophore maturation.
Craggs TD.

Curr Opin Struct Biol. 2006 Dec;16(6):714-21. Epub 2006 Oct 24.
Fluorescent proteins: maturation, photochemistry and photophysics.
Remington SJ.

[Kikko]

The process may be accelerated by the protein itself.  "The prolific use of green fluorescent protein and its variants throughout cellular biology relies on the post-translational formation of the chromophore, which proceeds without the need for any additional enzymes or cofactors, except molecular oxygen."

Chem Soc Rev. 2009 Oct;38(10):2865-75. doi: 10.1039/b903641p. Epub 2009 Aug 26.
Green fluorescent protein: structure, folding and chromophore maturation.
Craggs TD.

Curr Opin Struct Biol. 2006 Dec;16(6):714-21. Epub 2006 Oct 24.
Fluorescent proteins: maturation, photochemistry and photophysics.
Remington SJ.

Ah, ok thanks.
I remember finding that paper/title but I had no access to it.

[Corribus]

How about this, from one of the guys who actually discovered it:

http://tsienlab.ucsd.edu/Publications/Tsien%201998%20Annu.%20Rev.%20Biochem%20-%20GFP.pdf