Green Fluorescent Protein and Their Applications in Advance Research

Green fluorescent protein (GFP) from the jellyfish Aequorea victoria and its homologs from diverse marine animals are widely used in biological science as a universal genetically encoded fluorescent labels. Many laboratories have focused their efforts on identification and development of fluorescent proteins with novel characteristics and enhanced properties, resulting in a powerful toolkit for visualization of structural organization and dynamic processes in living cells and organisms. The discovery of green fluorescent protein (GFP) followed by elucidation of its molecular structure introduced a new and promising marker for biological studies. The diversity of currently available fluorescent proteins covers nearly the entire visible spectrum, providing numerous alternative possibilities for multicolor labeling and studies of protein interactions. This protein is intrinsically fluorescent, has a low toxicity, and allows easy imaging and quantification using fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS), confocal microscopy and epifluorescence microscopy which further expand the options for real time studies in living tissues. The review article focuses on the structure, properties and numerous applications of GFP as a reporter gene in biological research, with particular attention to recent techniques.