Green
fluorescence protein (GFP) is a 27 KDa protein derived from
the jellyfish Aequorea victoria, which emits green light (emission
peak at a wavelenth of 509 nm) when excited by blue light
(excitation peak at a wavelenth of 395 nm). Green Fluorescent
Protein (GFP) has become an invaluable tool in cell biology
research, since its intrinsic fluorescence can be visualized
in living cells. GFP fluorescence is stable under fixation
conditions and suitable for a variety of applications. GFP
has been widely used as a reporter for gene expression, enabling
researchers to visualize and localize GFP-tagged proteins
within living cells without the need for chemical staining.
Other applications of GFP include assessment of protein protein
interactions through the yeast two hybrid system and measurement
of distance between proteins through fluorescence energy transfer
(FRET) protocols. GFP technnology has considerably contributed
to a greater understanding of cellular physiology. |
