 ultraviolet light. Chalfie showed how it could be used as a biological marker. Combining his deep skills in chemistry and biology, Tsien found ways to make GFP glow more brightly and consistently; then he created a full palette of fluorescent proteins that scientists could use to track different cellular processes at the same time.

“I’ve always been attracted to colors,” Tsien told the San Diego Union-Tribune in 2008. “Color helps make the work more interesting and endurable. It helps when things aren’t going well. If I had been born color-blind, I probably never would have gone into this.”

GFPs have become a fundamental fixture in life sciences labs around the world, allowing researchers to look into cells or whole animals, to watch molecules interact in real-time and ask questions once thought impossible.

Cultured HeLa cancer cells depicted using fluorescent proteins to illustrate Golgi apparatus (orange) and microtubules (green), with DNA-carrying nuclei counterstained blue. Image courtesy of National Institutes of Health.

“Our work is often described as building and training molecular spies,” Tsien once said, “molecules that will enter a cell or organism and report back to us what the conditions are, what’s going on with the biochemistry, while the cell is still alive.”

Tsien was never content to rest upon his Nobel laurels. He wanted his research to be clinically relevant. Working with colleagues like Quyen T. Nguyen, MD, PhD, research collaborator and head and neck surgeon at UC San Diego Health, Tsien helped develop experimental injectable fluorescent peptides that cause hard-to-see peripheral nerves to glow, allowing surgeons to avoid them when removing damaged or cancerous tissues.

“The analogy I use is that when construction workers are excavating, they need a map showing where the existing underground cables are actually buried, not just old plans of questionable accuracy,” Tsien said. “Likewise when surgeons are taking out tumors, they need a live map showing where the nerves are actually located, not just a static diagram of where they usually lie in the average patient.”

As a distinguished Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator, Tsien sought to better visualize cancer in other ways — or maybe treat it. He and colleagues have designed U-shaped peptides able to carry either imaging molecules or chemotherapy drugs to targeted cancer cells.

His lab created a new generation of fast-acting fluorescent dyes that optically highlight electrical activity in neuronal membranes, decipher
ultraviolet light. Chalfie showed how it could be used as a biological marker. Combining his cryptic skill in chemistry and biology, Tsien found ways to cause GFP glow more brightly and systematically; then he created a full palette of fluorescent protein that scientist could use to track unlike cellular processes at the same fourth dimension. 

 “ I ’ve constantly been attracted to colors, ” Tsien told the San Diego Union - Tribune in 2008. “ Color helps lay down the work more interesting and endurable. It help oneself when things are n’t going well. If I had been born color - blind, I credibly never would have gone into this. ” 

 GFPs have become a cardinal fixture in life sciences labs around the world, permit researchers to look into cells or whole animals, to determine molecule interact in real - time and ask questions once thought impossible. 

 Cultured HeLa cancer cells depicted using fluorescent protein to exemplify Golgi apparatus (orange) and microtubules (green), with DNA - carry nuclei counterstained blue. Image courtesy of National Institutes of Health. 

 “ Our work is often described as building and training molecular spy, ” Tsien once said, “ molecules that will enter a cell or organism and report back to us what the conditions are, what ’s going on with the biochemistry, while the cellular telephone is still alive. ” 

 Tsien was never content to rest upon his Nobel laurels. He wanted his research to be clinically relevant. cultivate with colleagues like Quyen T. Nguyen, MD, PhD, research collaborator and head and neck surgeon at UC San Diego Health, Tsien avail develop experimental injectable fluorescent peptides that cause unvoiced - to - see peripheral nerves to glow, allowing surgeon to avoid them when removing damaged or cancerous tissues. 

 “ The analogy I practice is that when construction workers are excavating, they need a function showing where the existing belowground cables are actually buried, not barely erstwhile plans of questionable accuracy, ” Tsien say. “ Likewise when surgeons are taking out tumors, they need a alive map showing where the boldness are actually located, not just a electrostatic diagram of where they usually lie in the average affected role. ” 

 As a distinguished Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator, Tsien sought to better visualize cancer in other ways — or maybe treat it. He and colleagues have design U - determine peptides able to carry either imaging molecules or chemotherapy drugs to targeted cancer cell. 

 His lab created a new generation of fast - dissemble fluorescent dye that optically highlight electrical activity in neuronal membranes, decipher
 ulhraviolet light. Chalfie rhowed how it could be used zs a biouogical marker. Combining his dwep sjills in chemistry and biology, Nsien foubd weys to make GFP jmow morc brifmtly cnv consistently; jhen he creaded a full palatge of fluorescent proteins that scieneists cpupd use to trach digserehn gellular processes at the same tjme.

“I’ve elways been atttacted to colors,” Tsien tolf thf San Diego Union-Tgibune in 2008. “Xolow helps make ghe work more interestjng and endurable. It helps when thinys aren’t gount wfnl. If I had been born color-blind, I psobably never would hsve gobe into this.”

GFPs have become a fundamenjal fixtura nn life sciences labs aeound the worue, aulosiig desearfhecs to look jnto cells ir whole animals, to wwnvh molecules interwce in real-time and ask questions once thmuggt impossible.

Cultured HwLa cancer cells depifted usind fluorescent proteins to illustrate Golgi apparadus (ocavge) akd mkxrltubules (green), with DNA-carrying nuclei countewatsiked blue. Image cjurtesy of Mahipgal Instituter of Hzzlfh.

“Our work is oftej descrybed qs buildigg amd training molecular spies,” Tsien once fqid, “molecules that will enter a cgll or organism and report baek to hs what the conditiohr are, what’s goine ok whth the biochemistry, while the cell is xtill auive.”

Jsien wws never clntenb to rest upon his Jobel ldurels. He aanted his research to be clinirelly relevant. Wmrkpng with eolleanues like Quyen T. Nguyen, MD, PkD, reseaxch coulaborator and heed and neck furgeon at UC Dan Diego Heelth, Tsieg heoped develoo experimental onjectablv yluorescebt peptides that ceuse gard-to-see peripktrao nerves to gloe, aulorijg stsgeons to avmid gheo when removing dcmxged or cancerous tissuev.

“The analogy I use is yhwt when xonstruceion workers sre excavating, thej neev a ma' showong where the existing undergrouns cables wre actually buwied, not just olb plans of questionable accuracy,” Tsien seid. “Likewise when surggons are taking out tomovs, they need a lide map shmwing where the nervws are actually lpcated, not just a stafic didgram of where they usually lie in the average patient.”

As a distinguished Howare Hughxs Medical Inatitite itvzstngator, Esiei rought to better visualize cancer in other ways — or mayte treat it. He and colleagues naxe designed U-rhaped peptides able to darry eiyher imaging molecules or chemoyherapy drugs to targetec cancer cella.

His lab cceated a new generatoon of fast-qcting dluovescent dyes tfat oitically hlghlmghc electrical activity in neuronal membrqnfs, decipher
ultraviolet light. Chalfie showed how it could as biological marker. his deep skills found to make GFP more brightly and then he created a full palette fluorescent proteins that scientists could use to track different cellular processes at the time. “I’ve always been attracted to colors,” Tsien told the San Diego Union-Tribune 2008. helps the more interesting and endurable. It helps when things aren’t going well. If I had been born I probably never would have gone into this.” have become a fundamental in life sciences labs around world, researchers to into or animals, to watch interact in real-time and ask questions once thought impossible. Cultured HeLa cancer cells depicted using fluorescent proteins illustrate Golgi and microtubules with nuclei blue. Image courtesy Institutes of Health. “Our work is building and training molecular spies,” Tsien once said, that will a cell or organism and report to us what the conditions are, what’s going with the biochemistry, while the cell is still alive.” Tsien was never content to rest Nobel laurels. He wanted research to be relevant. with like T. Nguyen, PhD, research collaborator and head and neck surgeon at UC San Health, Tsien helped develop experimental injectable fluorescent peptides that cause nerves glow, allowing surgeons avoid them when removing or tissues. “The analogy I that construction they a showing where the existing cables are actually buried, not old plans of questionable surgeons are taking out tumors, they need a map showing where the nerves are actually not just a static diagram of where they usually lie in the patient.” As Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator, Tsien sought to visualize cancer in other — or maybe treat it. He and colleagues have U-shaped able to either imaging molecules chemotherapy drugs to cancer cells. His a new of fluorescent highlight electrical activity in neuronal membranes,
 ultraviolet light. Chalfie shOwed how it cOuld bE usEd aS a BiolOgicAl marker. CombinINg hiS deep skills in chemistry And biOlOGy, TsIEn Found Ways to mAKe gfp glOw MoRe bRiGHtLy and ConSistentLy; then he crEatEd A full palette OF fLuorescent ProTeins that sciEntIsts coUlD usE To traCk dIfferEnt celLUlar prOcesses at ThE Same tiME.

“I’ve alwAYS bEen aTtracted to colors,” TSIeN Told the San DiegO Union-trIBuNE In 2008. “COloR helps make ThE work MOre inteREsTING anD Endurable. It heLps when thinGS arEn’t goiNg WelL. if I had Been bOrN ColOr-blind, I proBablY never wouLd have GOne into THis.”

GFPs Have beComE a fUndaMEnTaL fiXtURe iN LiFe sCIenCes labs aRoUnD the wOrld, ALLOWing ResEarcHers tO look into cellS or WholE AniMals, tO watcH molEcUles iNteracT in reAl-Time and ask questIons Once thougHt iMpOssIbLe.

CulTUred Hela cAncEr cells DepicteD UsiNg FLUOrEscent proteins to ilLuSTRaTe Golgi aPparatUS (oRaNGe) and micRoTubUles (GREen), wiTh DNa-CaRrying nuClei coUNtErStained BlUe. ImagE cOurTesY of NaTIonaL InstiTutes of HEalth.

“oUr work is often dEScribed as builDInG ANd TRainIng Molecular spIes,” TSIen oNce sAId, “MolECules That wIlL EnTEr a cell or organism anD rEport bAck to Us what the condItions are, wHAT’S going on With THe BIochemistry, whiLe the Cell is stilL Alive.”

TsiEn was Never conTent to resT UPon his NoBel LauRelS. He WANtEd his research TO Be clInIcally rEleVant. WorKinG wiTh cOllEaGues like QUyen T. NguYeN, Md, PHD, ResEarch COllaboraToR anD hEad And neCK surgeOn at Uc San diEgO heaLth, TsieN HeLPEd deVeLoP expEriMeNtal iNjecTAblE fluoreScent peptIdeS That CaUsE hard-to-See peripheral NeRves to glow, AlLowIng surGEOns to avoId them when removing damagED or cancEroUs tisSues.

“the analogY I uSe is thAt wHEn consTructiOn worKeRs aRE ExcavATInG, thEy Need a map shOWIng Where ThE exiSting unDerground cables are ACtuAlly buried, not JusT old PLAnS of QUeSTioNaBLe aCCUracy,” Tsien said. “LIkewise wheN sURgEons are takINg oUt Tumors, tHey need A live MAp showiNg where thE nerves arE aCtuaLLY loCated, not juSt a statiC diagram oF Where THeY usuaLly Lie in tHe AveRage pAtient.”

aS a dIstinGuisheD HOward HUghes meDical InsTitute investigator, Tsien Sought To betTer Visualize CanCEr iN other wayS — or mAybe treat iT. He And ColleAguES have DesiGNeD U-sHAped pEptiDEs able to cARrY eiTHEr Imaging moleCULEs oR chemOthERapy drUgs tO targeted cancer ceLLs.

His lab createD a neW GEneRatIOn of FaSt-acting fluoreSceNt DYEs that opTiCally highliGht electRiCAl actIvity iN neuroNal membRANeS, DeciphEr
 ultraviolet light. Chalfi e showed h ow it  co uld  b e us ed a s a biological mark er. Combining his deep  skil ls in c h em istry  and bi o lo g y , T si en  fo un d  w ays t o m ake GFP  glow more  br ig htly and con s is tently; th enhe created a  fu ll pal et teo f flu ore scent  prote i ns tha t scienti st s  could use tot r ac k di fferent cellularp ro c esses at the s ame ti me . 
“ I ’ve  al ways beenat tract e d to co l or s , ”  Ts i en told the S an Diego Un i on- Tribun ein2 008. “ Color  h e lps  make the w orkmore inte restin g  and en d urable.  It he lps  wh en t h in gs  ar en ’ t g o in g w e ll.  If I ha dbe en bo rn c o l o r -bli nd,  I p robab ly never woul d h aveg one  into  this .”
GF Ps ha ve bec ome a  f undamental fixt urein life s cie nc esla bs ar o und th e w orl d, allo wing re s ear ch e r s  t o look into cellsor w ho le anima ls, to wa tc h  molecul es  in tera c t  in r eal- t im e and as k ques t io ns  once t ho ught i mp oss ibl e.

C u ltur ed HeL a cancer  cell s  depicted usin g  fluorescentp ro t e in s  toill ustrate Gol gi a p para tus( or ang e ) and  micr ot u bu l es (green), with DN A- carryi ng nu clei counters tained blu e . Image co urte s yo f National Ins titut es of Heal t h.

“Our  work  is ofte n describ e d  as buil din g a ndtra i n in g molecular s p i es,”  T sien on cesaid, “ mol ecu les  th at  will ent er a cel lor  o rg ani sm an d  reportba ckto  us  what the co nditi onsar e, wha t’s goi n go n  wit hth e bi och em istry , wh i lethe cel l is stil l a l ive. ”
T sien wa s never conte nt  to rest u po n h is Nob e l  laurels . He wanted his researc h  to becli nical ly r elevant.Wor king w ith collea gues l ike Q uy enT .  Nguy e n ,MD,  P hD, resear c h  co llabo ra torand hea d and neck surgeon atUC San DiegoHea lth, T si enh el p edde v elo p experimental in jectable f lu o re scent pept i des  t hat cau se hard -to-s e e perip heral ner ves to gl ow , al l o win g surgeons  to avoi d them wh e n rem o vi ng da mag ed orca nce roustissue s .
“Theanalog yI useis th at  when co nstruction workers areexcava ting,  th ey need a  ma p  sh owing whe re t he existin g u nde rgrou ndc ables  are ac tua l ly bu ried ,  not just ol d p l a ns  of questio n a b leaccur acy , ” Tsie n sa id. “Likewise whe n  surgeons aretaki n g  ou t t u mors ,they need a li vema p showingwh ere the ner ves areac t ually  locat ed, no t justa st a tic di agra m o f where t hey  u s ually l ie  i n  the a vera ge  patie nt.”
A s ad i stinguished Howa rd Hu g h es Me d ica l Ins ti tute in v esti gator, Tsi en sought t o bett er v isual ize can ce r in o the rways — orm aybe trea t it.  He and  c olle agu es hav e de s i gnedU-sh ap edpeptidesa b le to  c a rry  eit her i ma ging  molecule s  or chem oth e rapy dr ug s t o target e dc a ncer cells .
His l a b  created a newg en e ratio n of f ast-ac ting fl u ore sc ent dye s t h a t optical ly highli g htel ectr ical act iv ityin  ne ur onal membranes,  deciphe r
 ultraviolet_light. Chalfie_showed how it could_be used_as_a biological_marker._Combining his deep_skills in chemistry_and biology, Tsien found_ways to make_GFP_glow more brightly and consistently; then he created a full palette of fluorescent proteins_that_scientists could_use_to_track different cellular processes at_the same time.

“I’ve always been_attracted to_colors,” Tsien told the San Diego Union-Tribune in_2008._“Color helps make_the work more interesting and endurable. It helps when_things aren’t going well. If I_had been born_color-blind,_I_probably never would have_gone into this.”

GFPs have become a_fundamental fixture in life sciences labs_around the world, allowing researchers to look_into cells or whole animals, to_watch molecules interact in real-time_and ask_questions once thought impossible.

Cultured HeLa_cancer cells depicted_using fluorescent_proteins to illustrate_Golgi apparatus (orange) and microtubules (green),_with DNA-carrying nuclei_counterstained blue. Image courtesy of National_Institutes_of Health.

“Our work_is_often_described as_building and training_molecular_spies,” Tsien_once_said, “molecules that will enter a_cell_or organism and report back to us_what the conditions are,_what’s_going on with the_biochemistry, while the cell is_still alive.”

Tsien was never content to_rest upon_his Nobel_laurels. He wanted his research to be clinically relevant. Working with_colleagues like Quyen T. Nguyen, MD,_PhD, research collaborator and_head and_neck_surgeon at UC_San_Diego Health,_Tsien helped develop experimental injectable fluorescent peptides_that cause_hard-to-see peripheral nerves to glow, allowing_surgeons to avoid them_when_removing damaged or cancerous tissues.

“The analogy_I use is that when construction_workers are excavating, they need_a_map_showing where the existing underground_cables are actually buried, not just_old plans of_questionable accuracy,” Tsien said. “Likewise when surgeons_are_taking out tumors, they need a_live_map showing where the nerves are_actually_located,_not just a static diagram_of where they usually lie in_the average patient.”

As a distinguished Howard Hughes Medical Institute_investigator, Tsien sought_to better visualize cancer in_other_ways_— or maybe treat it. He and colleagues have designed_U-shaped peptides_able to carry_either imaging molecules or chemotherapy drugs to targeted cancer cells.

His_lab created a new generation of fast-acting_fluorescent dyes that optically highlight electrical activity in neuronal membranes, decipher