mCherry is a member of the mFruits family of monomeric red fluorescent proteins (mRFPs). mCherry absorbs light between 540-590 nm and emits light in the range of 550-650 nm. mCherry, out of all of the true monomers developed, has the longest wavelengths, the highest photostability, fastest maturation, excellent pH resistance, and is closest to mRFP1 in its excitation and emission maxima. mCherry belongs to the group of fluorescent protein chromophores used as instruments to visualize genes and analyze their functions in experiments. mCherry is used in fluorescence microscopy as an intracellular probe. It can also be used as a long-wavelength hetero-FRET (fluorescence resonant energy transfer) acceptor and probe for homo-FRET experiments.