The 2.0-A crystal structure of eqFP611, a far red fluorescent protein from the sea anemone Entacmaea quadricolor

We have crystallized and subsequently determined to 2.0-A resolution the crystal structure of eqFP611, a far red fluorescent protein from the sea anemone Entacmaea quadricolor. The structure of the protomer, which adopts a beta-can topology, is similar to that of the related monomeric green fluorescent protein (GFP). The quaternary structure of eqFP611, a tetramer exhibiting 222 symmetry, is similar to that observed for the more closely related red fluorescent protein DsRed and the chromoprotein Rtms5. The unique chromophore sequence (Met63-Tyr64-Gly65) of eqFP611, adopts a coplanar and trans conformation within the interior of the beta-can fold. Accordingly, the eqFP611 chromophore adopts a significantly different conformation in comparison to the chromophore conformation observed in GFP, DsRed, and Rtms5. The coplanar chromophore conformation and its immediate environment provide a structural basis for the far red, highly fluorescent nature of eqFP611. The eqFP611 structure extends our knowledge on the range of conformations a chromophore can adopt within closely related members of the green fluorescent protein family.