Researchers altered the first protein to give off light at a certain wavelength, and altered the second protein to collect that light. This revealed zinc in the cell, with coloured patches visible where the proteins detected zinc.

Guy Rutter, study co-author from the Imperial College, said: 'There has been relatively little biological work done on zinc compared to other metals such as calcium and sodium, partly because we didn't have the tools to measure it accurately before now.'

'Zinc is so important in the body - studies have suggested it has roles in many different areas, including muscles and the brain,' Rutter added, according to an Imperial College release.

These findings were published in Nature Methods.