Detecting apoptosis via DODO

The real-time detection of intracellular biological processes by coded sensors has broad application prospects. Here we develop a degron based modular reporting system: the Device of Death Operation (DODO), which can be used to detect a series of biological processes. The DODO system consists of "reporter", "sensor" and degron. After protease activation and cleavage, the degron will be released from the fluorescent protein and eventually lead to the stabilization of the fluorescent protein. By replacing different "sensors" and "reporters", a series of biological processes can be reported through different signals. The system can effectively report the existence of TEV. To prove this concept, we successfully apply the DODO system to report apoptosis. In addition, the reporter based on degron will help to design protease reporters other than caspase.