Genetically encoded fluorescent probes : some properties and applications in the life sciences

The green fluorescent protein (GFP) was first isolated from the bell margin tissue of the bioluminescent jellyfish, Aequorea victoria. Some key advantages for using fluorescent protein (FP) technology are highlighted in Table 3.1. FP technology is some 13 years old but continues to evolve through both engineering of existing proteins and the discovery of new members of the family. In this chapter we highlight some of their key properties and the conceptual approaches and their application. Of course, FP technology is not without its limitations and we also bring into focus some of the problems associated with the technology. Given the broad scope of this book, we hope it will be informative for those with limited awareness of research in the life sciences.