What is Green Fluorescence Protein?

Green Fluorescence Protein is a spontaneously fluorescent protein isolated from coelenterates, such as the Pacific jellyfish which that exhibits bright green fluorescence when exposed to light in the blue to ultraviolet range. Green fluorescent protein is comprised of 238 amino acids. Jellyfish contains a bioluminescent protein– aequorin–that emits blue light. The protein absorbs ultraviolet light from the sunlight, and then emits it as lower-energy green light which lights up the jellyfish. GFPhas all of its own light handling machinery built in constructed using only amino acids and so it is particularly easy to use. The uses of GFP are into the world of art and commerce, as biosensors etc. In cell and molecular biology, the GFP gene is frequently used as a reporter of expression where it is attached to the gene of interest to track its movement.