Contact Us | Carl Zeiss

Zeiss Logo

Education in Microscopy and Digital Imaging

ZEISS Microscopy ¦ Products ¦ Solutions ¦ Support ¦ Online Shop ¦ ZEISS International

Light Sources Spectral Imaging Wavelength Selection Microscope Basics Optical Sectioning Fluorescent Proteins Spinning Disk Superresolution
EGFP Fused to Human beta-Catenin

EGFP Fused to Human beta-Catenin

The digital image above shows mammalian cells expressing the Aequorea victoria-based protein, EGFP, fused to beta-catenin. This fluorescent protein, which possesses an excitation spectral profile well suited to the 488-nanometer argon ion laser line, can be seen localized in areas where neighboring cells come into contact with one another. This is because members of the catenin family of peripheral cytosolic proteins bind selectively to the highly conserved cytoplasmic tail domain of the cell-to-cell adhesion cadherin proteins. beta-catenin, which is one of three major catenin species, binds directly to the E-cadherin cytoplasmic domain and is crucial to intercellular adhesion and signal transduction between adjacent cells.