D) FRET Daiquiri and Margarita pair

The Science of the mesmerizing FRET color changes

FRET is a phenomenon in which fluorescent molecules transfer their energy to result in color changes. During my project I used green and red fluorescent proteins to create a reporter for the activity of the executor protein (Caspase-1) of inflammasomes. As the name implies, green fluorescent protein shines with green light. But should it be close enough to a red fluorescent protein, it will instead transfer its energy to that, shifting the light from green to red. In my project, I created a reporter so that when Caspase-1 is activated it changes the distance between the green and red fluorescent protein, which I could then measure as a change in the light shining from the cells. To capture these spectacular color changes in cocktails, I used the beautiful colors of Butterfly Pea Flower and Saffron.

Butterfly Pea Flower: This stunning flower contains anthocyanins, which react to pH changes. In an acidic environment, like when we add lime juice to the cocktails, the blue hue of butterfly pea flower transforms into a vivid pink.

Saffron: Known for its yellow/orange color, it adds a beautiful color change of the butterfly pea flower, turning it from blue to green. When the acidity causes a color change it creates a stunning visual effect in which a vibrant red color emerges instead of pink.