Abstract: Fluorogenic peptide probes specific for a target molecule are provided. Exemplary fluorogenic peptide probes include a peptide labeled with a fluorogenic label, wherein the fluorogenic peptide probe has an unstructured three dimensional conformation in the absence of the target molecule and a structured three dimensional conformation in the presence of the target polypeptide. The structured three dimensional conformation includes an alpha-helix that forms a coiled-coil with the target molecule allowing generation of a detectable signal from the fluorogenic label in response to an exciting amount of radiation.