Modified fluorescent proteins

1 . A nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a functional red fluorescent protein whose sequence differs from the amino acid sequence of an Anthozoan red fluorescent protein SEQ ID NO: 7 by at least one amino acid substitution, wherein the amino acid substitution is at position D59, I60, S62, P63, Q64, F65, Q66, S69, K70, V71, Y72, V73, W93, R95, N98, W143, A145, S146, T147, E148, Y151, G159, I161, K163, G171, S179, Y181, S197, L199, Y214, E215 or R216, wherein said functional red fluorescent protein has a different fluorescent property compared to said Anthozoan red fluorescent protein SEQ ID NO:7).

2 . The nucleic acid molecule of claim 1 , wherein said functional red fluorescent protein exhibits a reduced molar extinction coefficient at 487 nm compared to said Anthozoan red fluorescent protein SEQ ID NO:7).

3 . The nucleic acid molecule of claim 1 , wherein said functional red fluorescent protein exhibits a reduced molar extinction coefficient at 530 nm compared to said Anthozoan red fluorescent protein SEQ ID NO:7).

4 . The nucleic acid molecule of claim 1 wherein said functional red fluorescent protein exhibits a higher molar extinction coefficient at 583 nm compared to said Anthozoan red fluorescent protein SEQ ID NO:7).

5 . The nucleic acid molecule of claim 1 , wherein said functional red fluorescent protein is brighter than said Anthozoan red fluorescent protein SEQ ID NO:7) when excited at 558 nm.

6 . The nucleic acid molecule of claim 1 , wherein said functional red fluorescent protein is brighter than said Anthozoan red fluorescent protein SEQ ID NO:7) when expressed in a mammalian cell.

7 - 16 . (canceled)

17 . The nucleic acid molecule of claim 6 , wherein said at least one amino acid substitution is at position 64.

18 . The nucleic acid molecule of claim 17 , wherein said at least one amino acid substitution at position 64 is Q64N.

19 - 26 . (canceled)

27 . The nucleic acid molecule of claim 6 , wherein said at least one amino acid substitution is at position 71.

28 . The nucleic acid molecule of claim 27 , wherein said at least one amino acid substitution at position 71 is V71A.

29 - 44 . (canceled)

45 . The nucleic acid molecule of claim 6 , wherein said at least one amino acid substitution is at position 147.

46 . The nucleic acid molecule of claim 45 , wherein said at least one amino acid substitution at position 147 is T147S.

47 - 84 . (canceled)

85 . A nucleic acid molecule, comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a functional red fluorescent protein whose sequence differs from the amino acid sequence of an Anthozoan red fluorescent protein SEQ ID NO:7 by at least one amino acid substitution, wherein said amino acid substitution is at Q64, T147, Y71, S62, S179 or S197, and wherein said functional red fluorescent protein has a different fluorescent property compared to said Anthozoan red fluorescent protein (SEQ ID NO:7).

86 . The nucleic acid molecule of claim 85 , wherein said functional red fluorescent protein exhibits a reduced molar extinction coefficient at 487 nm compared to said Anthozoan red fluorescent protein (SEQ ID NO:7).

87 . The nucleic acid molecule of claim 85 , wherein said functional red fluorescent protein exhibits a reduced molar extinction coefficient at 530 nm compared to said Anthozoan red fluorescent protein (SEQ ID NO:7).

88 . The nucleic acid molecule of claim 85 , wherein said functional red fluorescent protein exhibits a higher molar extinction coefficient at 583 nm compared to said Anthozoan red fluorescent protein (SEQ ID NO:7).

89 . The nucleic acid molecule of claim 85 , wherein said functional red fluorescent protein is brighter than said Anthozoan red fluorescent protein (SEQ ID NO:7) when excited at 558 nm.

90 . The nucleic acid molecule of claim 85 , wherein said functional red fluorescent protein is brighter than said Anthozoan red fluorescent protein (SEQ ID NO:7) when expressed in a mammalian cell.

91 . The nucleic acid molecule of claim 85 , wherein the amino acid sequence of the functional red fluorescent protein differs from the amino acid sequence of the Anthozoan red fluorescent protein SEQ ID NO:7 by Q64N, T147S, V71A, S62T, S179T and S197A.

92 The nucleic acid molecule of claim 85 , wherein the nucleic acid sequence encodes a functional red fluorescent protein whose sequence differs from the amino acid sequence of an Anthozoan red fluorescent protein SEQ ID NO:7 by at least one amino acid substitution, wherein said amino acid substitution is Q64N, Q66, T147S, K163, V71A, S62T, S179T or S197A, and wherein said functional red fluorescent protein has a different fluorescent property compared to said Anthozoan red fluorescent protein (SEQ ID NO:7).

93 . The nucleic acid molecule of claim 85 , wherein the amino acid sequence of the functional red fluorescent protein differs from, the amino acid sequence of the Anthozoan red fluorescent protein SEQ ID NO:7 by amino acid substitutions Q64N, T147S, and V171A.

93 . The nucleic acid molecule of claim 85 , wherein the amino acid sequence of the functional red fluorescent protein differs from the amino acid sequence of the, Anthozoan red fluorescent protein SEQ ID NO:7 by amino acid substitutions Q64N, T147S, V71A, S62T, S179T and S197A.

94 . The nucleic acid molecule of 85 , wherein the nucleic acid molecule is a recombinant nucleic acid molecule.