“…Fluorescent proteins, e.g. , the green fluorescent protein (GFP), are frequently fused to proteins to monitor their expression levels, folding, functional state, and cellular localization. − Furthermore, pH-sensitive GFP mutants, so-called pHluorins, have been developed, which can be fused to proteins of interest to report local pH changes in cells or vesicles with greater sensitivity than commonly used pH-sensitive dyes such as ACMA (9-amino-6-chloro-2-methoxyacridine) or pyranine (8-hydroxypyrene-1,3,6-trisulfonic acid). − Even though the level of sensitivity might not have reached its full potential, these tools are especially valuable for assessing the correct reconstitution and function of energizing and transport modules (see sections and ) in synthetic vesicles, a majority of which create or depend on established proton gradients. In addition, the fusion of soluble protein domains to integral membrane proteins has been proposed as an approach to create more water-soluble constructs and thus facilitate their expression and purification .…”