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 H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> 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.