Quantitative Comparison of Monomeric StayGold Variants Using Protein Nanocages in Living Cells

Giulia Viola; Yasmeen W. Ibrahim; Kyle A. Jacobs; Joël P.C. Lemiere; Matthew L. Kutys; Torsten Wittmann

doi:10.1242/jcs.263858

Cell BiologyJournal of Cell ScienceMay 6, 2025

Peer-reviewed journal article

Quantitative Comparison of Monomeric StayGold Variants Using Protein Nanocages in Living Cells

Giulia Viola iD, Yasmeen W. Ibrahim iD, Kyle A. Jacobs iD, Joël P.C. Lemiere iD, Matthew L. Kutys iD, Torsten Wittmann iD

Abstract

To standardize comparison of fluorescent proteins and independently determine which monomeric StayGold variant is best for live microscopy, we analyzed fluorescent protein tagged I3-01 peptides that self-assemble into stable sixty subunit dodecahedrons inside live cells. We find mStayGold is 3-fold brighter and 3-fold more photostable compared with EGFP and superior to other monomeric variants in mammalian cytoplasm. In addition, analysis of intracellular nanocage diffusion confirms the monomeric nature of mStayGold.

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