Photochromic fluorescent proteins and optical memory storage devices based on fluorescent proteins

US6046925A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• The Regents of the University of California · US

Inventors

• Roger Y. Tsien · Village of La Jolla, US
• Roger Heim · Del Mar, US
• Andrew B. Cubitt · San Diego, US
• Robert Martin Dickson · Atlanta, US
• William E. Moerner · Stanford, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 14, 1997
• Grant date: Apr 4, 2000
• Expiry date: Apr 14, 2017

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G11B2007/24624
• WIPO field: Audio-visual technology
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

Photochromic fluorescent protein moiety having two or more stable states having excitation or emission spectra that are shifted from one wavelength region to another wavelength region in the two states are described. The photochromic material switches between states by irradiation with light of appropriate wavelengths. The two states are preferably stable at room temperature and in the dark. The switching between states can be reversible.