Design of AsLOV2 domain as a carrier of light-induced dissociable FMN photosensitizer.

Flavin mononucleotide (FMN) is a highly efficient photosensitizer (PS) yielding singlet oxygen ( O ). However, its O production efficiency significantly decreases upon isoalloxazine ring encapsulation into the protein matrix in genetically encoded photosensitizers (GEPS). Reducing isoalloxazine ring interactions with surrounding amino acids by protein engineering may increase O production efficiency GEPS, but at the same time weakened native FMN-protein interactions may cause undesirable FMN dissociation.