Redox Biosensors
Oxygen is a central molecule in aerobic life being not only a terminal electron acceptor in respiratory chains, but also a global regulator of many physiological and pathological processes. This regulation acts via reactive oxygen species (ROS) probyced in the cell in a highly controlled way. Overproduction of ROS causes damage of many biological molecules: a condition called "oxidative stress". In the last years synthetic and genetically encoded redox probes appeared allowing H2O2 detection within the cells and tissues. Genetically encoded sensors are highly selective and sensitive, they can be targeted to various cellular compartments and particular cell types within transgenic animals. A joint EMBL-RFBR project "Probing the connection of redox and lipid signaling" is aimed at the development of molecular tools for detecting ROS and other redox-active substances.