Tg(CMV-EYFP/DsRed2)1Mklv

The cytomegalovirus enhancer/promoter drives expression of a chimeric protein in which enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (EYFP) is separated from Discosoma red fluorescent protein 2 (DsRed2) by a 19-amino acid peptide linker that includes the capase-3 cleavage site (Asp-Glu-Val-Asp). When cells expressing the intact chimeric protein are excited with a 450-490 nm light or with a 488 nm argon laser, they strongly fluoresce red due to fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) from donor EYFP to acceptor DsRed2. Upon caspase 3 activation, cleavage of the joining peptide chain results in increased EYFP fluorescence and concomitant decreased DsRed fluorescence, which is correlated with increased pro-caspase 3 processing. This serves as a sensitive reporter of caspase 3 activation upon induction of apoptosis. (J:82809, J:209202)